January 4 , 2010

2010 Very First President's Message from Mary Schoenfeldt

Wow …  2010... how did that get here so fast?  Doesn’t seem that long ago to me that it was Y2K and we were all squirreling away supplies in case the world suddenly collapsed around us at the stroke of midnight.   In that decade, we saw events ranging from an attack on the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, a pandemic outbreak,  a stock market crash, a new war or two, a couple of tough Presidential elections and then the actual election of the first African American President ever. 

And during that same time members of Cascadia got older, wiser, smarter, richer, poorer and all points in between.  We’ve had members join us, we’ve had members leave us, we’ve had members retire and we’ve had members start new jobs, we’ve bought and sold rigs, we’ve upgraded and downsized.  And we have thrived! 

Because of you, our members, we are considered by some to be the best chapter in the national organization.  We are strong in number, we are strong in finances, but most important we are strong in spirit.

I am honored to sit in the President’s chair this year.  Honored to be able to work with the fabulous Board that you elected, honored to lead the work that will need to be done this year (I think it’s a By-Law year), honored to be a part of the activities that are already being planned and honored to just simply be among friends. 

When I try to explain Cascadia to others, I tell them that one weekend a month I get to go on a play date with my "homies"!   I would love to hear why YOU are involved. What is that Cascadia does for you that keeps you coming back?  Whatever that is for each of us, that is what makes our Cascadia spirit so powerful.

I am anxious to hear your thoughts about this coming year. What do you want to do?  What do you want to see?  What do you want to achieve?  Or how do you want to make your investment in Cascadia even more meaningful for yourself?   Let me know your thoughts in face-to-face conversation, by phone (425-922-5300) or by e-mail at yoursafeplace@msn.com.

It will be nice to see everyone again.  If you’d like, please join us at our first 2010 Board meeting on February 6, (location still to be decided but will be posted on the web site as soon as it’s confirmed).  Or maybe the next time I see you will be at our first event in March or one of the other events during the year.  (By the way, registration for 2010 will be active on the website by the end of January so don’t forget to check back.)

I am looking forward to a great year along with you, my friends. 

Mary