December 11, 2008
Dear Mid-Maryland Chapter
Members:
As this year comes to an
end, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our
NARI chapter. As I have said to many of you in passing,
people join an association, like ours, for a thousand
selfish reasons. All of those reasons are good and
justified because they are personal. Being an individual
within the greater membership allows me and you
opportunities we have yet to discover.
My personal and selfish
reason for joining the Mid-Maryland Chapter several
years ago was to associate myself with the best of the
best in our region. After my first dinner meeting, I
knew I wanted to rub elbows with the members of this
Chapter. Everyone I met at that first meeting was sharp,
professional and willing to share business ideas. The
biggest thing that is lacking in my day to day business
is talking with sharp people who want to take their
businesses in the same professional direction as mine. I
don’t get that from my employees and rarely from my
subcontractors. I shouldn’t expect that from them, but I
have come to expect it from the membership of this
Chapter.
In the past several months
we have seen a decline in interest at our chapter
functions. You don’t have to remind me that attendance
is not mandatory. However, an association like ours is
only as good as the people who are active in it. For
example, at the recent Holiday party, despite a small
turnout, we had sponsors who came through with door
prizes and everyone had a good time. People brought
gifts for the Toys for Tots Campaign. As many as five
people complimented on how the pool tournament created
interaction and networking that otherwise may not have
taken place.
I personally talked with
two individuals at the Holiday Party that had some
business related concerns. After we talked one said they
were inspired to try harder and the other was grateful
for a new idea. Without this event these conversations
would not have taken place. It is very gratifying to me
to be able to help someone else. Though, I don’t claim
to have all the answers, some of my peers have the
answer I don’t. That is what has been missing in recent
months. Having everyone together at an event discussing,
sharing, helping to raise the bar, offering to help one
another and showing their best as knowledgeable business
people should be one of our goals as an association.
As you are aware we are
collecting our Board of Director Election Ballots
and since our ballots have gone out we have had
additional members that have expressed their interest in
becoming board members, so the ballots have been
updated. It is crucial that we receive these ballots
from you, our members. Our by-laws clearly state we need
25% or our member votes to form a quorum. Click
HERE to
download the election ballot then send it in to us via
fax 301-829-9868 or mail. You may also send it to us
electronically, click here to download the ballot and
send via e-mail to
filomena@marylandnari.com.
I wish you the best for
the Holidays with friends and family. Be grateful for
what you know and be curious for what you don’t. Take
time to reflect on what is important to you and how you
can improve yourself. The idea of bettering oneself is
selfish though justified, but bettering someone else
first is noble and righteous. I miss you and hope to see
everyone at our January 21st dinner.
Sincerely,
Steve Klitsch,
CAPS
President
Maryland
Remodelers
Association
NARI MID-MARYLAND
Upcoming Events
January 21,
2009 -
"Green
Remodeling"
