As we start into the New Year we each need to be reminded of the things we have and have a willing heart to help others.  In helping others we also get blessed.  Honoring our comittments to the chapter and each other should be every member’s desire.

Mary Beth joined the Municiapal Employees chapter in March of 2009 and has jumped right in.  Way to go Mary Beth.

During the months of August, September, and October we collected non-perishable food items to give to a local food bank, The Quinn House.  You can learn more about this ministry’s mission and needs at their website www.thequinnhouse.com.  They are a licensed food bank and have been established in Lawrenceville for over 25 years.

 Our members also wanted to do a “hands on” project.  As a group we signed up to volunteer at Life Care Center in Lawrenceville.  Over the next 6 months we committed to provide ice cream scoopers one Saturday a month.  Jody and I took the first month of October.  I have to say it was a lot of fun for us to work in the Ice Cream Shop and meet the residents.  Brusters watch out!

We will resume our regular schedule of meeting on the 3rd Thursday evening in September.

Please also note, starting with the August meeting our new time.  Networking will be from 5:45 pm with the program beginning at 6:00 pm.  The location has stayed the same. 

On June 30, 2009 the 2009-2010 Officers for Municipal Employees Chapter were installed. Georgia Division President Donna Mitchell CPS/CAP conducted the installation ceremony.

In keeping with doing something different, this year’s installation ceremony was a Book Installation Ceremony. President Mitchell chose a John Maxwell Leadership book to present to each incoming officer. Each book represented a skill or knowledge set that would assist the incoming officer in their new duties and responsibilities.

The 2009-2010 officers are:

            President                     Rena Blackstock CPS/CAP

            Vice-President             Jody Jones

            Secretary                     Lorraine Powell CPS/CAP

            Treasurer                    Cheryl Goodwin CAP

Good luck to these officers as we embark on a new year and new challenges as well as opportunities.  

Cheryl, Lorraine, Jody, Rena

At the June 30 Installation Meeting, our Chapter decided to do something a little different….we held an Outstall Ceremony for the 2008-2009 outgoing officers.

The ceremony was a way to express our appreciation to these officers for their dedication and commitment to IAAP and to Municipal Employees Chapter. Each outgoing officer was presented with a copy of the poem read during the ceremony. The copy of the poem also contained a picture of the American flag.

The outgoing officers are:

            President                     Doris Davis CPS/CAP

            Vice-President             Jody Jones

            Secretary                     Debbie Boyd

            Treasurer                     Rena Blackstock CPS/CAP

Doris, Jody, Debbie, Rena

POWER or Commitment, Professionals Achieving the Extraordinary is the theme I chose for Georgia Division this year and boy does that describe the Municipal Employees Chapter! You have always gone above and beyond what was asked of you and you have always succeeded! Our members posses a variety of talents and you all work so well together as a team. St. Francis of Assisi once said All getting separates you from others; all giving unites to others. You have especially been a strong united team the past two years. This past year as you prepared for the President’s Reception and the year before as you hosted the 2008 Georgia Division Annual Meeting. Those were two huge undertakings for a small chapter, but you did an outstanding job on both. Your selfless actions over these past two years speak very highly of you as individuals and as a chapter.

Thank you again for all you have done and for setting the example for others to follow!