Where Did This Come From?

This story borders on the surreal so I'll tell it slow so when I re-read it I won't think that someone else wrote it. This all started about a week ago when I called the communications officer of the flying club I belong to and asked a silly question about getting some shirts embroidered. Since we don't have anything to offer the membership, I thought that I would take it upon myself to do the legwork needed to make this available. I called some great people I used to work for (thanks to Kim at Alford Media) and got the info I needed.

I had to take the information to a board meeting to present it to them to make this an official request. While there, an old topic raised its head. Our vice president of membership retired last year and no one wanted the job. Part of the reason that no one wanted the job was the fact that Keith was amazing at this job. He had the charisma, knowledge, drive, connections and skill to do this job better than the average bear. The board was still looking for a replacement but no one would bite. I got a lot of mysterious looks and winks when the topic came up but I told them that the demands of my new job were keeping me very close to home until I was in full swing.

The fun begins when I get home and talked to my wife. I told her about what transpired at the meeting and she just looked at me and said that I should go for it. After I finished shaking my head I asked her why I should try to fill such big shoes, never expecting the first response. She told me that she knew how much I love flying, and everything that goes with it, and I should try to share that with the flying club. I really do like everyone that I have dealt with to date in the TFC. So I mulled it over and the next night, I called the president and told him, in so many words, that I was his man. I also called the communications officer, whom I have tremendous respect for also, and let him know what I was doing. He was somewhat disappointed because he wanted to groom me for his board position but was happy for me to join the board.

So at our membership meeting on Saturday morning, I was announced as our new vice president of membership. I am very excited that I can contribute to something that I enjoy so much. There are a lot of responsibilities, as I found out at the end of the meeting when I had to do the paperwork for a new member. I want to project on to every new member, just how exciting this adventure can be. If everyone gets just a portion of what I have received from this experience, they all will be rich in ways that they have never knew existed. I take on this role with a lot of respect for the ones who served before me and am hopeful that I can follow in the large footsteps that they have left.

Respectfully yours,
the new TFC vice president of membership