 2005 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
COLLEEN BOLDEN SMITH
Dear Members:
My term as president of this fine organization has expired and truly, it has been my pleasure to serve as your leader. I have tried to move the organization forward while building a foundation on which we can build stronger alliances-alliances with other organizations, as well as alliances within our own membership. My leadership strategy has been to serve by focusing on the needs of the organization; by listening and building a sense of community, and by encouraging the active participation of all. Some days were more successful than others!
When I think of great leaders, I think of those that remain fresh in our minds. They remain vivid, not because of their ability to lead, but because of their ability to inspire the heart and to build teams that work together for the betterment of the organization as a whole. They create a vision that you want to be apart of, yet they do it quietly. The following quote by Lao-Tzu reflects my thought:
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.
While president, I recognized clearly that the success of this organization is due to more than one; it is the collective. It is because of you and those that came before you. It is due to your help, and our joint efforts. It is all about leveraging our individual leadership styles and abilities to create a synergistic force which demands to be acknowledged.
I look at us in wonder and amazement and think, what if? What if we stepped up our game? What if we embraced our sisters? What if we purposely tried to lift up one another? It is the next chapter in our historical book and one that will no doubt be worth reading.
Thank you.
Colleen
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