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Inkspot
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Greetings
from the President... by Teresa Herrera Well, folks… this will be my last “Greetings…” I guess I need to make it a good one! The thing is, I never really know what I’m going to say when I begin to write. We’ll just have to wait and see what emerges. As I begin, I know one thing I want to do is welcome Leo Gonzalez as your new President. I’m grateful to have Leo follow me as President, as I know his dedication and commitment to this Section is as strong as mine. Believe me, I leave you in good hands! Leo will be installed to this position at our annual banquet on January 11th. We’ll also be installing our newest Board member, whoever that may be… (remember to vote!). Please come to the banquet and show your support for both the new Board and to the winners of this year’s awards program. The Banquet will be held at Scott’s in Jack London Square. Another item I must pass on are two actions that were taken at our December Board meeting. First, the Board voted a reduction of our Section dues from $20 to $15. You should have received by now, a renewal form in the mail. We’re able to lower the dues because the cost of publishing this newsletter has been greatly reduced. And, since we don’t have the need, we want to return the benefits to our members. So, show your support of this great Section and renew your membership! The second item is that we will continue to give door prizes at our monthly dinner meetings, though attendees will not be able to purchase more tickets beyond the one that everyone will receive with their dinner payment. By doing it this way, we won’t need to jump through all the burdensome legal and accounting hoops necessary if we sell tickets (in which case, we’d call it a “raffle”). Even though the Section is “subsidizing” the door prizes under this scenario, we think it’s important enough to our membership to continue this long-standing and fun tradition. Okay, now that business is aside, I can talk about items of a broader nature. I happen to be writing this article on December 11… 90 days after that fateful day in September. That day, three months ago, is forever inscribed in my mind. I dare say it is forever inscribed in all of our minds. So, where do we go with this now? How do we be with all the events that have transpired since that day and that are continuing to transpire at such a rapid pace? Particularly at this time of year? This season which represents new hope, the light emerging, beginnings, and a time of peace. I am actually brought to a place of hopefulness in this moment of time. And why I’m hopeful is because of the opening that I see in people. The greater consciousness of the sanctity of life. A greater appreciation for those things in our lives that transcend the material world. Things like family, like friends, like health, and, yes, our work also. Particularly at this time of year with the holidays and the new year of 2002, I know it’s easy to get caught up in the frantic-ness of life. The shopping, planning, travel and stress that can come with this season can take our focus away from the deeper meaning present. So, I want to encourage all of us to take the time, be it a few seconds or a minute or a day, to contemplate all that we have to be thankful for. And, to feel what it is that truly holds import to us… our families and friends, our health, our connection to our god/spirit/Self/higher being that feeds the deeper aspect of ourselves. I hope each of you have a safe and warm holiday season and new year. It’s been an honor for me to have served as your Bay Section President and I thank you for your support over this past year. Take care and be safe. |
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