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This is the last time that I will be writing this column. After being elected to two successive terms as your president, I truly believe it's time for new blood and fresh faces to lead this great organization.
The work of a president of any non-profit is sometimes misunderstood, usually unseen, and always unpaid. The president is a leader among the many wonderful and talented volunteers who are naturally attracted to groups like ours. I believe that such a leader must: 1. organize the volunteers; 2. give them vision for the future; 3. give them the necessary resources; and, most importantly, 4. get the hell out of their way as they perform their mission.
The last four years seem to have flown by quickly, but I would like to think that, working together, we have accomplished quite a lot. There has been great change in the organization and in the world since I was installed in November of 1999. Please humor a retiring president as he reflects on those changes.
We have created an emphasis on financial independence. For the first time we have an annual fund drive which has given us tens of thousands of dollars of unrestricted revenue. We have had other mid-year campaigns and are planning special fundraising events. After a few false starts, we now have an experienced and cohesive finance committee to make sure that we continue these efforts into the future.
We have greatly increased our capacities. We built our own warehouse and have been improving it constantly. We now have improved office space on the Stevens Point campus and have gone from a full time staff of one person to three. We have created a special building committee to procure new office and warehouse space in Nicaragua.
We have reorganized and revitalized the Partner City program. Without sacrificing the independence of these groups, we have created our first Partner City Manual and established minimal reporting requirements to assure that we are all working together. We have created four new Partner City programs and are working on more.
I believe that now, more than ever, we are working together to make a difference. Our Board of Directors began a policy of annual strategic planning. We have streamlined our committees and they are functioning well. Either the full board or its Executive Committee now meets each month to provide oversight and direction to our activities. A new accounting system and database have been created to provide efficiency and transparency. Most importantly, we carefully planned for the retirement of our Executive Director and the transition into new leadership.
Being president of Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc. is very much like a roller coaster. There are a lot of extreme highs and lows and its always moving. But I have been blessed to be able to work with a great group of volunteers who in their own way also lead and inspire. To all of you who are a part of this great organization, I thank you for this privilege. It's been a great ride!
Rick Congdon
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