It's the season of transition, as we move from summer back to our "normal" work or school routines. I hope you had a pleasant vacation during the summer and you're feeling rested and recharged and "ready." It's a wonderful feeling to have, and an important feeling to hold on to.
I'm looking forward to a new year with CoALL. We have an excellent slate of leaders chairing our committees and our members bring us a treasure of resources. One of my biggest failings is taking good people and good work for granted. Being surrounded by smart, fast-paced colleagues who are wonderful to work with is a blessing for which I want to be constantly thankful.
Having traveled over much of the world, I rarely take for granted the beautiful geographic surroundings in which we live in Colorado. As many of you know, I'm in the mountains climbing or hiking almost every weekend because I find this challenging, renewing, and inspiring. It usually allows me to return to work on Monday recharged. Recently, I've been trying to think of a way to "recharge" CoALL. I wish it could be as simple as taking you all for a fall hike in the Rockies!
Many of you have been CoALL members for several years and feel you have done your share of work for the organization. True enough. And it's probably also true that you were not appreciated as much as you deserved for the work you did and the meetings you attended. I think we all realize that it's our own inner self-worth that is most important, but it still hurts when we don't receive the recognition we feel we deserve. So let me say that I will truly appreciate any of you who will allow yourself to be recharged and get back into the swing of CoALL. There is a lot to learn and share with your professional colleagues if you'll only make the effort to come to meetings and give a little. I won't take you and your good work for granted. We enrich each other with our professional presence and sharing even though we don't always realize it. Please join in and have some fun!