Executive Message

“On Volunteers”

Recently, an associate asked me, “Are you having fun yet?” in my role as Vice President of the CSEG for the 2004/2005 year.

I reflect back to the start of the term, some 6 odd months ago, and can’t believe that the time has gone by so quickly.

One only has to experience the high level of demands placed upon one with all the various committees, meetings, phone calls and personal contacts to realize the importance of the positions one accepts.

I am honored to be part of our Society and it amazes me to see the quality of people that we attract in a volunteer capacity with the demands of our fast-paced, high-intensity jobs.

We are thankful to the employers that remember the times when they were fledglings in our Industry, yet still wanted to take the time to volunteer so that a paper could be given at the Convention or a student was mentored at the job-site in hopes of building a strong Industry with a focus on the future.

My personal goal as Vice President this year is to solicit ideas from our members for changes in the future.

I am sure that many of us have had thoughts as to improvements in our over-all organization. One only has to look at the changes to our “Recorder,” or the re-vamping of our “Web-Site” to know that we are looking to the future in hopes of remaining your voice within the society.

I am looking forward to sharing new thoughts with regards to our Conventions in the future. We all realize that we must change with the times and we are constantly asking our Sponsors, Members and Exhibitors alike for feed-back. After listening to various Convention committee members over the years as well as both Exhibitors and Sponsors, meetings have been held with the Executive of the CSPG and the decision to hold a Joint Convention both in 2006 and 2007, back-to-back, has been approved by both disciplines. We are excited to announce this and let you know that plans are now underway to make this happen.

The “Doodletrain” has taken on its own identity within the CSEG and the success of it, again, is attributable to a large number of volunteers and excellent direction . The number of registrants this year is impressive as-is the list of courses prepared by stalwarts of our Industry.

Each of our independent events – i.e. The Ski-Spree, Doodlebug and Doodlespiel – continue to do well, thanks again to a super core of volunteers and for all of those, we thank.

To answer the question then, “Are you having fun yet?” You bet, and I am looking forward to working with the excellent people on our Executive and the new people joining it in the ensuing months.

Thank-you for giving me the opportunity of working with all of you, it is indeed a privilege.