Page 14 - June-2021-Voices

PJ’s PERSPECTIVE
Schellenberg as Conference Chair, Kathleen
Tully as Contest Chair, and Tamsen Corbin as
Chief Judge. They coordinated literally dozens
of other volunteers who worked behind the
scenes for all of the events this year.
CGD Lorri Andersen was responsible for
all things related to Club and membership
growth, which was not a trivial task during a
pandemic. Members of her team included Ken
Coomes as Club Extension Chair, with Rodger
Cook providing back up, Cleon Cox as Club
Sponsor Coordinator, Paul Fanning as Club
Coach Coordinator, plus Donna Stark, John
Rodke and Paul Matulek on the Marketing
Committee. I just finished a Zoom call with
our Region Advisor and my fellow District
Directors in Region 1. It appears that we will
charter more new Clubs this year than any of
the other Districts in the Region. Thank you
and congratulations to everyone who helped
make that happen.
My list keeps growing as I almost hear
the Academy Orchestra reminding me to
leave the stage. . . Other key members of the
District Staff include Phyllis Harmon as Admin
he most dangerous leadership myth is that
Tleaders are born-that there is a genetic factor
to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite
is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
14 ONE COMMUNITY
Manager, Jamie Gould as Finance Manager,
and Neal Iversen as PR Manager. I can’t forget
Dave Shehorn as Parliamentarian, Kathleen
Tully as Realignment Committee Chair, Brian
Richardson as Audit Committee Chair, Chris
Angelopoulos as Webmaster, and thanks to
Brenda Parsons for helping Chris transition into
that role.
Finally, a huge virtual hug to Immediate Past
District Director, Emilie Taylor, who has been a
fabulous friend and mentor this year, who will
remind you that it really does take a village.
It has been my pleasure to serve as your
District Director for the 2020-2021 program year.
I said earlier that I had it pretty easy because we
were in lockdown for the entire year. I don’t think
we will ever go back to a “pre-Covid normal”.
My successor is going to have a lot of challenges
putting the pieces back together as we make the
transition to in-person meetings, plus online
and hybrid meetings. It will never be the same
as before. However, I will reflect on the lessons
I have learned, and share those with him as a
mentor and the IPDD. I’m looking forward to a
great year of opportunities and regrowth.
—Warren Bennis