president’s perspective
By Patrick Chapman, SAMA Ramsey County
MAAO President
“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it” – Lou Holtz Wow What a Year! I am sitting and think about the last year. It was February of 2020 and I hear there is a virus making its way to the US. Some people on a cruise ship are detained. A friend of mine has parents in China and they are trying to find N95 masks. I think to myself what in the heck is a N95 mask? I look in my garage and I have a package hanging on my peg board. Oh, these are what I use when I am sanding something. I wonder why they need those? I am starting to think about Spring, and I am excited to get tickets for the Minnesota Wild on St. Patrick’s Day. What could be better downtown St. Paul, hockey and green beer. Then March hits. The virus comes to the US. People start to wonder what is going to happen. The Governor comes on the news and announces that Minnesota will close at 5pm March 17th for fifteen days to flatten the curve. Wow!
Innovation, Adaption and over coming of obstacles. I have seen, in my county, a workforce that has taken on these challenges and modernized our process to meet the new challenge. In MAAO I see an organization that is nimble and can meet all the needs of the members during the most difficult of circumstances. We were able to transition summer seminars to a remote event that was very successful. We gave a mix of classes. in a new, safe expanded environment. We launched a new class Residential 101, and it was a huge success. We had a fall conference that was a hybrid event that was a complete success. People stepped up all throughout the organization. Thanks to all of you that did!
Fast forward to today. I have a truck full of masks, I call sweatpants work pants and my eyes are going crazy from looking at the screen all day. I have most meetings on zoom or teams, and I had no idea what they even were a year ago. I have only been in the office a couple of times in the last year. When I go in it is a ghost town and there is plexiglass everywhere. The way we do our work is completely different.
Now as we look ahead to the upcoming Summer seminar. We will be offering an event with two parts. One for those who would like the remote experience and a parallel event in person. Both events will offer opportunity for 8 hours of quality education. I am excited to be able to provide the experience that our members want. The committees and coordinators are working very hard to provide a great experience for everyone. As I am writing this, we are offering ALP virtually over a two-week time period. What a great accomplishment. I am so impressed with all the people we partner with. Especially our partners at the DOR.
What is the result of all this you may ask?
Looking forward to the other educational
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Winter 2021 / Equal Eyes
offering this year. Advanced ag is looking good and ready to go. MAAO Basic Income is nearing its completion and will be offered this August. We will offer IAAO 112 online in September. A number of excellent educational offerings with a mix of in person and online experiences. A big thanks to all that helped in this endeavor. I will end on this thought: We have been faced with many challenges over this last year. Some great some small. I am so proud to be part of an organization that seized the opportunity in these challenges to make MAAO a stronger, better and more nimble organization. Thank you to all the members. Endeavor to persevere! Patrick Chapman President MAAO
