PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: A EULOGY


Robert Perkes, DC, President WSCA Board of Directors


It isn’t often you get to write your own eulogy. Most people settle for whatever someone cobbles together for them, half of it wrong and the other half surprisingly generous. I’ve been handed the pen myself, so let’s give this term the send-off it deserves.


We gather today to mark the passing of my presidency, which died peacefully of natural causes at the ripe old age of one year. Cause of death: Bylaws. There was no suffering. There was, admittedly, a lot of email.


The deceased is survived by a board of directors, an executive team, a strong membership, and one gavel that will change hands with more relief than ceremony.


It’s customary to say something flattering about the departed, so I’ll say the truest thing I know. Everything worth putting in the obituary belongs to other people. This term accomplished almost nothing on its own especially if we don’t follow through. But I’m holding the pen, so allow me to read some highlights.


I’ve served on committees where the hardest part of the meeting was reaching quorum. That was not this year. Our board showed up physically, mentally, and with an agenda they read beforehand, which in association life qualifies as a miracle. Attendance was outstanding, participation even better. Our Board was working.


Our membership percentage is the highest it’s been in years. I’d love to credit my personal animal magnetism, but the truth is more encouraging. People joined and stayed because the organization got better at being worth joining and describing our mission and value. If you brought someone in this year, that number is yours, not mine.


We spent real effort on the unglamorous stuff: processes, calendars, handoffs, the things nobody notices until they break. Our events run smoother. Registration is less painful. Our agendas resemble the actual meetings. To the staff and volunteers who rebuilt the plumbing, future boards will benefit from your work without ever knowing your names, which is the highest compliment available around here.


Ple x us September 20 26 5


The estate is in good order. We’re on solid financial ground, with reserves intact, an honest budget, and no surprises tucked in a drawer for the next administration to find. Any organization can have a good year. Leaving one healthier than we found is the whole job.


Thank you to our Executive Director and his team. You guys do most of the work keeping us running. Your time is appreciated and efforts are noted. I hope we kept you hustling and lives a little more exciting.


Thank you to our committee chairs who herded the cats and kept us on task and mostly on schedule. You answered calls in the evenings and weekends and made us successful.


Thank you to my family and my office staff, who covered every time “a quick board call” became three calls and took an hour.


In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you renew your membership, say yes when a hand is asked, and bring a colleague to the next event.


To Dr. Hansen: The association is healthy, the board is engaged, the books are clean, and the group texts are relentless. Change whatever you want. I did.


It’s been the honor of my professional life. The president is dead. Long live the president. Good luck, Dr. Hansen.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32