Message From the President
Friendly
Charles Figari
NACAS President
Thus far in my President’s Perspectives, I have related “Success in the Bones,” “Focus,” “All the President’s Mentors” and “If the Answer is Change, How Does It Happen?” While all of them relate to our membership, no one should find that surprising because NACAS is about our membership.
Recently, I was visiting relatives in a little area called Horseshoe Bay just outside of Austin, Texas. While there, all of us went to a town called Johnson City (named after our 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson). We went there to listen to music at a local pub called The Friendly Bar. The music was not produced by a structured band but rather a group of individuals who each brought their own musical instrument (mostly guitars, although there was a lady playing the drums). They came from all directions within a 50-mile radius. They sat in a circle, rotating clockwise, taking turns singing a song of their choice. Everyone else in the place sang along encouraging each performer and helping when the individual did not know all the verses of the song they had chosen. It was basically a group of people who had come together as friends and considered each other as part of the family, despite the fact that most everyone in the place had just met that night. Everyone participated, whether they played an instrument or just sang along with the rest of the crowd. Of course, the place was very small, so closeness was part of the environment.
After I left Friendly’s, I thought to myself, This is what NACAS is all about! A group of individuals who hardly know each other, yet are willing to help each other just for the reward of doing it. NACAS is truly a friendly organization, and because of that friendship, we all learn from each other. Just look at what I have learned from you:
Jerry Turner always there trying to guide me on leadership skills and introducing me to the importance of NACAS (and just being a good friend).
The “Z Sisters” (Sharon Turner, Margie Churchman, Susan Caples, Myra Valentine) teaching me – and all of us – about unity, loyalty, caring (and just being good friends).
Joe Pietrontoni & Paul Davies offering me the run of their University to see how to improve my own organization (and just being good friends).
Peter Fraser guiding me on the skills of negotiating (and just being a good friend).
Kathy Herr on how to negotiate a win/win (and just being a good friend).
Bill Shiba (Dr. Shiba) helped me to learn to laugh while working (and just being a good friend).
Dave Kratzer taking his own time to assist me with a career path (and just being a good friend).
Ken Ramey for introducing me to the best ice cream in the world (and just being a good friend).
Frank Mumford relating how being “thoroughly organized” is a good thing (and just being a good friend).
Roz Meyers for teaching me the values of Georgia Tech and how to be firm in decisions (and just being a good friend).
Abby Sipe showing me the importance of being a stepfather (and just being a good friend).
Jim Hudson showing me what true southern friendship is all about (and just being a good friend).
Mike Nelson, Cheryl Armstrong, Anne Munson & Nancy Becerra teaching me true family values (and just being good friends).
Chuck Fuller & Charlie Salas on the values of leading our younger generation (and just being good friends).
Bill Smith (The General) on teaching me the importance of being humble (and just being a good friend).
Bob Hassmiller showing me how to do 50 things at once (and just being a good friend).
Jeff Perdue showing me how to be a true friend even when financials are not friendly (and just being a good friend).
Ron Martel for always being there for me and just recently showing me how to deal with “thugs” (and just being a good friend).
Bill Redwine & Andy Meeks giving me the opportunity to understand what keynote is all about (and just being good friends).
Eddie Mills demonstrating how to be calm (and just being a good friend).
Felicia Townsend teaching me how to dance (and just being a good friend).
Keith Chapman illustrating the value of sincerity (and just being a good friend).
Vickie Somers proving patience is rewarding (and just being a good friend).
Teri Bump showing me that business relations are best when you just plain “care” (and just being a good friend).
Patty Eldred teaching me that details are important (and just being a good friend).
Cheryl Crouch & John Gregory directing me to the proper exercises to avoid back pain (and just being good friends).
Kristan Gregory showing me how to always smile (and just being a good friend).
Anne Waters for just always being there (and just being a good friend).
I could go on and on, and I apologize to those individuals that I have omitted (not forgotten). There is a message from my experiences, and I think that all of us cherish it – FRIENDSHIP! Note that I have learned more than just the business of auxiliaries – much, much more. NACAS is friendly and that is what we are all about.
I wish that we could have our next conference at Friendly’s, but I think that we would take over the whole town. WOW! Let’s think about that. In the meantime, please submit some of your experiences to Marcia Oakley at marcia@nacas.org. We will collect them and publish them in one of our future issues of CS.
In my next and last president’s perspective, I will also talk about our membership. I will once again remind you that you are the success of NACAS because you are the BWF (Backbone, Wishbone and Funny Bone) of NACAS.
