Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am required to leave office before my third one-year term is expired in April. Andrea's mother is at the point where she needs assistance if she is to maintain her currently good state of health. We therefore decided that if we were to avoid putting her in an assisted living facility that we would have to move to Hawaii this year. To that end, I have put in for early retirement with my employer, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Redondo Beach, and we plan to move to live with Andrea's mother in November.
The position of club President is inherently rewarding. The President receives recognition among other politically active people, and forms many new associations with individuals and organizations. The President has many opportunities to form friendships with political officials and candidates. The President also receives personal satisfaction in knowing he has a key role in the club's activities and the political success that results for our community, State, and nation. Helping to make the world a better place to live and with a better future for our children is the greatest reward.
So I urge each of you to consider giving back to your club and your community: volunteer for a position on the club's board of directors, including the Presidency.
Volunteering for club activities helps you grow. I remember the first time I volunteered to research the propositions for an election. I downloaded all the text of the propositions and the affected law and studied it diligently. I learned where to find the opinions of others and resources such as the League of Women Voters and the County Registrar's Office. After that first experience, I find it much easier to review proposed changes to the constitution and law. It becomes easier to see through the bogus arguments of the opposition, and easier to promote the Democratic views on the candidates and issues.
Another way being President will help you grow is the experience gained in presiding over the monthly meetings. It's a bit stressful at first, but you will soon build confidence and begin to enjoy guiding a meeting to a consensus view. In some cases we agree there will be no unanimity, but we will understand each others' positions and agree to remain united in the larger core values of democracy.
It's not hard and you will get lots of help from your fellow club members, so please, volunteer for this vital role today! You will be surprised at how much good you can do.
Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com
PresidentRemarks0910.html, this handcrafted HTML file was created October 5, 2010.
Last updated October 7, 2010, by
Rick Wagner. Copyright © 2010, all rights reserved.