The Georgia Scroll
October 1997
President's Message
September 4, 1997
By Pat H. Hamby, FHFMA
Wow! What a wonderful Summer Institute! Kudos to Lex Klamke, Cathy Dougherty, and Bill Eikost as well as their entire teams for putting together an excellent conference. And, of course, thanks to the Supreme Power for the incredible weather we had! Four hundred and three (403) attendees had the opportunity to expand their horizons through the many educational offerings, share experiences through networking opportunities and, perhaps even relieve a little job stress by basking in the plentiful sunshine. All of this further validates the theme of the National Office - From Opportunity to Action - as well as the Georgia theme this year - Education: The Cornerstone to Success!
We are especially grateful to those who provided the educational presentations and to the corporate sponsors who make it possible for us to provide quality education to our membership at such an affordable price.
Thank you also goes to the TEAMS members for your active participation in making this year exceptional. Without each of you our efforts to serve the professional needs of our entire membership would not be possible! If you aren't involved in a TEAM, there is certainly a place for you. There is no better way to get to know people and have the opportunity to share information/experiences than through this enthusiastic group.
Those of you who missed the Friday morning General Assembly "Be a Scrapper, Not a Scrap" missed a treat! To paraphrase some of the many points made by Mr. Wayne Ates, in order to determine if you are -mentally well+ you should answer the following questions: Can you work productively; love unselfishly and laugh appropriately? According to Mr. Ates, there are three qualities you should possess that will assist you in being "mentally well" and a "scrapper". The first is have a healthy sense of humor - keep a funny bone up your sleeve. Secondly, have a positive attitude about yourself and other people. The most important thing about you is your attitude. Charles Swindoll wrote a tribute on "Attitude" and the last sentence of this tribute says it all: "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you also. We are all in charge of our own attitudes." Believe the sky's the limit. You will see what you are looking for - if you look for the good and the positive, that's what you will find. And, finally, be enthusiastic! Not a fanatic. There is a difference. Enthusiasm is a conviction of the heart and mind - it+s what makes you what you are! If you have enthusiasm, you can't help showing it - more importantly, it's contagious!
If you don't already possess the three qualities of a "scrapper" as defined by Mr. Ates, I trust you will work to gain them and develop a healthy mental well being. Make this the best year of your professional and personal life-there is no better time to start than NOW!
I look forward to seeing each of you at our upcoming Fall Institute at the Hyatt Hotel in Savannah. The dates of this meeting are November 5-7, 1997. Brochures should be in the mail soon. Let's continue to expand our horizons through education, our network of colleagues, and solidify our professional foundation, recognizing that "Education is the Cornerstone to Success!" The Fall Institute promises to provide you this opportunity.