Hello again fellow members of RECSI. This year has gone quickly and not without many exciting happenings in the Chapter.  It is with great enthusiasm that we on the Board and Committees begin to look toward the New Year and anxiously look forward to what the newly elected officers will do to push the bar for our Chapter even higher.

Just the shear enthusiasm of those elected after being asked to serve on various committees is infectious.  Bryan Varner is already busy in the kitchen.  He is modifying old menus and has some amazing appetizers, entrees and desserts ready to serve to the members – I am speaking figuratively here, of course, but Bryan is a great cook to boot.  Bryan will prove that leadership is not a spectator sport. I hope that all of you realize what great talent has been or is being assembled to make our membership experience even better.

Last month was a prime example of how good it can get and will be.  We had about 44 people for the Ellis Creek Waste Water Recycling Facility field trip.  Then after some left for the night, we picked up 46 for the dinner meeting portion. Not to mention that many of those who attended were new members and people driving from some distance. Thank you all for making that event so great.

The Chapter still faces many challenges that can only be met by increased participation by the members themselves.  The fact that being involved is fun and that the rewards are felt by all members is motivation in itself, but growing our Chapter into a real force in the Northern Bay Area is what we are after. We saw this in our continued involvement with AIARE. AIARE joined RECSI at the Product Expo, and we had the largest attendance ever at an educational seminar at the Expo. This is raising the bar.

We saw an increase in overall membership due to the tireless work of the Membership Committee.  The Chapter has grown and we are now at our all time high in terms of home members.  The Membership Committee was driven by Bryan and the organization of that committee should be a model for other committees.

We are expanding and this is great.  What we at the Board level want is to continue to, and improve on, the benefits our members receive.  This will probably be one of the bigger issues facing the new board.  But to understand how to better serve the members, we need to hear from the members.  What do you want form the Chapter?  What types of things will keep you coming back?  I know for me it is the educational opportunities, the dinner meetings and the access to the members-at-large.

Serve on a Committee to get your agenda heard.  Let the board and committee members  know what it is that would make the Chapter better.  Don’t hesitate to corner a board or committee member and let them know what you think would add value for the members. The input from the members is crucial to continuing to raise the bar. I look forward to hearing from you or serving on committees with you.

Respectfully,

Jim Daniel