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Janus Speaks in June
By Walter Hanig, President

Author Bio

Administrative Council

This being my last Signature article for the chapter year, I chose to report on the lows and highs of the past year. Oddly, or perhaps not, both lows and highs originate with people.

On the down side, there was much turnover or service gaps on the council and in other key volunteer positions. The consequences were gaps in service to members or outright lack of service in some areas.

We had some communications lapses when the mistress of communication was out of commission for awhile. When our Professional Development VP left, we didn't fill that position very effectively. (I tried to do it, so I can be critical.) Because of resignations or relocations, we had to replace the Programs and Employment VPs and the meeting reservations and hotel liaison, too.

Ironically, were it not for these low points, I wouldn't be able to point out the high points of the chapter year: the willingness of new volunteers to step forward and take on new roles.

• Sue Heim gave in to my groveling and volunteered to be Employment VP.
• Michael Cárdenas volunteered to be Programs VP.
• Lance-Robert covered member communications while Pat Ray was out.
• Lance-Robert and Sue Heim helped locate new meeting locations when our arrangement with the Wyndham fell through.
• Kimberly Hiland is our new meeting reservations contact.
  

Not only are thanks due to those who stepped forward during the past year, but I also truly appreciate the new and continuing volunteers on next year's council:

• Web site: Kelley Wilson
• Employment: Beth Peisic
• Professional Development: Michelle Petersen
• Newsletter: Catherine Robinson and Jennifer Mallory
• Membership: Sue Heim
• Programs: Michael Cárdenas
• Finance: Lance-Robert

As president again next year, I look forward to working with them and everyone in the chapter.

Of course, the chapter wouldn't have accomplished so much over the year without all our volunteers. Please come to the June meeting to thank them yourselves.

Besides the satisfactions I've had working with the volunteers and meeting so many of you in meetings or corresponding in e-mail, I've been pleased with many concrete improvements in the way the members have been served. The meeting-reservation system has been enhanced by allowing credit card payments with PayPal. Prepaid reservations and computerized check-in have allowed attendees more networking time before meetings.

Though attendance was small, satisfaction was great with the STC-sponsored telephone seminars.

The library's popularity continues to grow; often one member is lurking by the library table, waiting for another to turn in a specific book.

By spending council time discussing the roles of the newsletter and the Web site, we saved time and effort in both areas without any loss in information to the members.

From the reports I've read, the Hanalei was a winner of a location, though I realize it requires a little longer drive for many of us.

For those who wonder why we moved the meeting location, here's the short explanation. The Wyndham contracted with a larger (more profitable) organization on most second Wednesdays of the month. In the Sorrento Valley area, only the Woodfin had a sufficiently large meeting space and had some degree of food service. Holding the meeting north of the 5/805 merge would have added nontrivial travel time and aggravation.

Moreover, the hotels there (Doubletree and Marriott) would have forced us to raise meeting fees. So, we looked in Mission Valley, keeping the constraints of meeting on the second Wednesday of the month and leaving the chapter's cost unchanged.

As we investigated other sites, we learned that they all require a firm headcount three business days in advance. This requirement necessitated changing the on-time reservation deadline from Sunday evening before the meeting to Thursday evening before the meeting.

This change is stated in the meeting announcement e-mail and the meeting information on the Web site.

So what changes might we see in the next chapter year?

• My highest priority is working with Michelle on conducting home-grown professional-development seminars. Please let me know what topics you're interested in.
• It's been too long since the employer database was updated.
• I'd like to bring back the résumé table we had a few years ago. I know I've benefited from others' reviewing my résumé!
• I'm confident that new newsletter and Web site VPs will bring new ideas to those areas.
• Michael Cárdenas has already started lining up exciting programs for next year.
• We'll investigate enhancements to our processes for e-mailing members about meetings and other announcements.
  

And I'll try to avoid my mistakes of the past year, so I have time to make new ones!