President, Anyone?

The honor to serve as President of PCRID is one I have embraced and given my full attention. In fact, I have thoroughly enjoyed facing the challenges as I moved progressively through the different positions to the Presidency. Initially I volunteered working as the Membership Coordinator during a transition to a new website. The engagement with the website led me to take on the role of Webmaster, endeavoring to make PCRID’s website a dynamic and valuable asset to its members. Later, when stepping into the role of First Vice President to complete the second year of a term, I found new challenges being part of the Board in a leadership role. Now, as President, I see great value in stepping up incrementally and participating in the process of running a membership organization.

I am not alone in this journey. It is wonderful to see people stepping up as volunteers, actively engaged in our professional organization locally and beyond. This year alone we have seen volunteers pass the baton to new volunteers, providing relief for those who have dedicated time and energy over the past year or longer. It demonstrates the value that each of us brings to PCRID. Everyone has something to offer at some point in time. I would like to express my gratitude toward those who have served and those now beginning their service. You are the heart of PCRID. Since there are many variables that determine the extent to which any one of us can volunteer our time in the service of our organization, those who have not served deserve no less respect. Your dedication to our profession may be manifest in other ways, and I thank you for giving your best as an interpreter. Family, jobs, health, and many other factors influence our choices and set parameters that may limit what we do even when we want to do more.

One such variable now puts me in a position to make a necessary decision to move to California. We will be moving to support family as we deal with aging parents in need. I do not enter this decision lightly. I have discussed this openly with the Board and we have agreed that I will need a replacement for the second year of my term as President. We are committed to making this transition with the interests of the membership of PCRID in mind.

In my absence, our Bylaws shift my duties to VP1. I am happy to announce that Heather Mewshaw will complete my term on the Board as President. Heather took on the role of Webmaster when I left it last year. She stepped up this year and filled the role of First Vice President during the second year of the term while upgrading the website and our communications to the membership. Her willingness and effectiveness in both of these roles has been nothing short of phenomenal. She was already committed to running for VP1 again, but we on the Board all agree that she would be ideal to step into the second year of my term as President. We will work together to make the transition seamless. I will still be here in November at the Annual Conference, and Heather and I will co-chair the Business Meeting. I ask that you welcome her and give her your full support.

It has truly been an honor to serve as President. Working with this Board has been a joy. They are a truly remarkable group of leaders, worthy of praise. I look forward to the remainder of this year and hope to see many of you in November at Conference, perhaps even stepping up to positions of service within the organization.

Michael