Scaffolding Industry - September 2008 - (Page 26)

Past President’s Message Continued from page 23 case, strong chairwoman. Say hello to one of my favorite Canadians, Wendy Larison. I could tell you about our new Board of Directors who were seated just weeks after I took office with three simple stipulations: Be proactive not reactive, make things happen and get things done. Apathetic persons need not apply. No apathy on this board. Just 26 individuals committed to a better, more relevant SIA. And lastly, I could tell you how fortunate I was and how lucky you were to have an Executive Committee as accomplished as the one I have just worked with for the past two years. I was taught years ago to hire people smarter than you, give them the tools to do the job, tell them what you want done, get out of their way and let them do it. I haven’t told them this until now, but this team exceeded my expectations after the first year which sent me back to the planning stages to create another action plan for year two. Being the astute businessman that he is, incoming president Bill Breault has retained most of this executive team going forward which will ensure a seamless transition with no loss of momentum going forward. I would like to personally and publicly extend thanks to past president Howard Schapira, vice president John I promised Crown Royal at SIA functions. Brasil and two-term treasurer Liz Callahan for their service to me and this association as they will not be returning to the Executive Committee. There’s not much more to say about Howard Schapira that has not already been said. Howard has done everything and more during his tenure with the SIA. I know tonight is bittersweet for him as he truly loves this association and what it stands for. Many of you will never know how much he has sacrificed for this association. I do and I am proud to call him a friend. With all due respect to Wendy, John Brasil is my favorite Canadian. He has changed my life. You see it was John who proved to me that Canada keeps the good Crown Royal in Canada and sends the blended “backwash” to the United States. Truly, a defining moment in my life. As an accomplished Crown Royal aficionado, I challenged him on this revelation. That’s when he brought me a bottle of the Canadian Crown which took me six months to open for fear that I would have to clean out my liquor cabinet at home. I finally opened that bottle on Christmas Eve 2007 with my 70-yearold father who was visiting from Florida. John was right, it was better by far. The bottle was empty by New Years and my father and I shared many stories and laughs through the holidays. Make no mistake, I play favorites and she may be surprised to hear this but Liz Callahan is my favorite. As most of you know by now, I became treasurer in 2000 and inherited an association on the verge of finan- 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 Scaffold Industry www.scaffold.org http://www.scaffold.org

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