President’s Message
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy” for BWNA. Well, perhaps “easy” is a stretch, but healthy for sure, given our current 14-member board (only one board vacancy to fill), a first-rate newsletter and website, active committees, updated bylaws and policies, orderly finances, and a promising new meeting venue. A sweet start for this “recycled” president.
“Recycled”? That’s the wink-and-a-nod descriptor newsletter editor Susan Trabucco used to introduce me as the new BWNA president in the May-June issue. Conscientious pro that she is, Susan ran the quip by me ahead of time to make sure I was okay with it. My “wink back” response to her: “At my age, ‘recycled’ is better than the alternative. Go with it.” Susan expressed her gratitude for my sense of humor.
At my age, ‘recycled’ is better than the alternative.
If you’ve lived in the neighborhood for a number of years and kept up with the BWNA newsletter, my name probably rings a bell — as the former newsletter editor for 12 years and BWNA president for several years before that.
My latest BWNA incarnation was as VP, until April when Patty Nelson announced she would not be seeking another two-year term as president, thus necessitating someone to step up to the leadership plate.
My personal thought at the time was “been there, done that” — but when nobody was able to make that commitment, it became my duty as VP to fill in until someone did. My thought then changed to, “Since I’ll be filling in as president for who knows how long, why not become the real deal?!” And serve I will for one term.
But that of course left the VP position open. When Patty asked who would be willing to step up to serve in that capacity, once again, no one at the table was able to take on the role. Subsequently, though, immediate past president (and all-around great guy) Tim Gillespie graciously agreed to serve alongside me, despite a full plate of personal commitments that will require him to miss some meetings. Thanks, Tim!
Thus intact, the near future is looking positive for the BWNA board and, by extension, for the neighborhood as a whole — not to mention this recycled president.