Outgoing President’s Message

Infinite Possibilities

Breathe… Just breathe... That’s how it all began two years ago in Minneapolis… And so it begins again. I have with me those same emblems: my mother’s crocheted heart, Anne Creveling’s turtle, my chapter’s handkerchief, and Lue Sebren’s gavel. And tonight I add a special star, a gift from a dear sister.

Judy Ganzert Two years ago, when I stood before you, I shared that I imagined a bright future for Alpha Delta Kappa, moving forward in membership, recognition of excellence, altruism, world understanding, and technology, too. I believe with all my heart that our members have these same dreams for our sisterhood.

As I thought about what I would say to you tonight, I thought about sharing a humorous, lighthearted description of the biennium. I thought about writing a poem. I thought about using an acrostic. I changed my mind so many times. Finally, I decided to speak to you from my heart.

Earlier this evening our program began with the video and music of “Let there be Peace on Earth.” I specifically chose this song because it has a very special meaning to me, dating back to my days as a social studies teacher. It always seemed that I was teaching about one war or another. This song took hold of my mind. I don’t remember the occasion, but I can still see a young child, probably only five or six years old, standing on the stage of, I believe it was the Kennedy Center, singing that song. The events of 2020 also took me back to my youth, growing up in the 60’s. Then, I was reminded of the war of the 1860’s. The events of 2020 occurred while I am in my 60’s. Odd facts like that fascinate me, but I digress. The events of last summer brought me back once again to that song. In early June, I received a letter from a member. A single member. Her voice and the words I read spoke volumes. A discussion began. A very important discussion. For some of us, the discussion has been a bit uncomfortable. For others, it has been a discussion that has been too long in the making. While the events of the summer of 2020 have had many consequences, for me they prompted an awareness and a call to look within our organization. A conversation began because of a single member. Each of us must look within ourselves. As we travel that well-traveled path, we will come to the point where the path will diverge, and we must choose the path we will take. Will we take the easy path, the one welltraveled … or will we take the one less traveled? Will we stand up to make a difference? I imagine that many of you think that I am referencing our work this past year with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee… Perhaps … but the parallel goes to so many other challenges and choices we had to make this biennium. The loss and replacement of our Executive Director. The cancellation, rescheduling and reimagining of our S/P/N conventions and our regional conferences. The decision regarding just how we would even conduct a chapter meeting. The last nineteen months have not been easy. But look at what we have done … what we have accomplished! WOW!!! We have come so far. We have learned so much. As Sandy told us a few days ago, we took the lemons we were given, and we made lemonade. A few of us may have even added a little gin. Infinite Possibilities for sure.

What a fitting theme! Most of you are probably not aware, Infinite Possibilities was not supposed to be the theme for this biennium. The theme and logo committee spent hours and hours brainstorming and attempting to be creative. We finally had it. Then, I took our ideas to Elaine Florimonte and asked her to create the artwork that would incorporate the theme and become our biennium logo. I described each element to her and the symbolism behind each one. Time passed. Finally, the day came, and I received the artwork. I studied it. I called Elaine to talk about it. I told her it was absolutely gorgeous, but the theme was wrong. The theme was supposed to be Pathways of Possibilities. Silence. And then she said, “but that isn’t what I heard as you spoke to me … I heard Infinite Possibilities.” WOW! She was right. That truly was the message behind the idea. I took it back to the committee, and they agreed. Elaine had listened. She had heard the message beyond the words.

And that is our challenge. We must listen. We must listen to every member. Every member deserves to be heard. Every member deserves our respect.

Yes, the music that opened our gathering has special meaning to me, and now perhaps to you. Let there be Peace on Earth and Let it Begin with Me.

As I leave you this evening, and as the 2019-2021 biennium comes to a close, I want to express my deep gratitude to so many of you. There is no way to include each individual who has come to hold a special place in my heart as the love and support that I have received every day has been tremendous. Seldom did a day go by that I didn’t receive a note of kindness or a card or a gift from a sister. The wall hanging you see behind me was made by a Virginia sister and a gift from Virginia Sigma, the home chapter of Past Grand President, Lou Sebren. It was those messages and love that held me up and kept me moving forward. The leadership team, including our International Council of Presidents, our International committee members and chairmen, our Headquarters staff, the International Executive Board and the International Chapter, all were instrumental in the successes of this biennium. Personally, I am indebted to three women that I will hold dear forever. Immediate Past President Sue Pelchat. Whenever I had a serious dilemma, it was Sue that I called first. Sue