In case many of you don't know, my company, Linens 'N Things, is going out of business and therefore, I will be out of a job in a few months unless I am able to secure something in the meantime. Trust me, I'm searching hard but in this economy and this time of year, it's pretty difficult.  For that reason, and the fact that I've been president the past two years, I was thinking about stepping down.  At a recent Board meeting, when discussing open positions, the present board pretty much convinced me to stay on regardless and I will have to gauge my involvement based on the job hunt.  It was good to see a few board members staying on either in the same capacity or new one.  I was also happy to see a few new faces stepping up to take an active role in the club.  Robert Curtis is a great addition to the club and will be a very sound club secretary and Nick Albano rejoins the board as Member at large.  Then we come to Treasurer...

Another new face to the board, John Hayden had planned on stepping up but he too had some personal matters that forced him to back away from the nomination and thus Doug and John were challenged to find someone willing to step up to assume the Treasurer's job. Doug pounded the phones and to much frustration had very little cooperation.  It seems that everyone has something better to do.  Finally, Frank Freguletti stepped up and will be our 2009 treasurer and I'm excited about that.  Frank is a very intelligent and responsible individual and I have the utmost confidence that he will be a great treasurer but that doesn't prevent the sour taste in my mouth about the situation.

I can understand that people have other things in their life but hey, I work two jobs, including my real estate hobby, have two small kids at home, a one hour commute each way to work, do alot of things outside my responsibilities as President, and am facing a very difficult time in my life, yet, when the club came calling and I was asked to stay on as president, I said yes. I felt an obligation to this club and to you, the membership.  Am I just a sucker who can't say no when I probably should?  Maybe.  But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't feel disappointed in the rest of the guys who sit back and say, not me...I'm too busy or I don't want that responsibility, or I can't balance my own checkbook!  Guys, you'd be amazed at what you can do if you only tried.  You're not alone in the job either.  As a board, we work together and help is just a phone call away.   

So, we're set for this year and I thank those departing board members, Terry Eckel, Robert Burton, and Kris Lechman, for this commitment to this club and welcome the new faces joining me this year. Kris will be joining the tournament committee with an eye on succeeding Jason as our next tournament director which is great but what about the other positions?  I will be stepping down after 2009 and anyone interested in the President's job is invited to work side by side with me to learn the job.  The casting call is there and will anyone step up for the sake of the club?  Ask yourself the question "what can I contribute?" rather than "what excuse do I give to not contribute!"  If anyone should have an excuse this year, it's me. 

 

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