2014. Even as I write it, it’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. I am fortunate to be president of NEFBA this year for several important reasons.
First, this is the year NEFBA celebrates its 70th anniversary and I consider it a true honor to be president during such an important milestone. We are planning to memorialize the association’s finest moments in its long history and then turn the spotlight on the present and the future.
Secondly, the darkest days of the downturn are behind us. We not only survived, but we are beginning to enjoy periods where we can actually say we are thriving.
The persistent effort, the don’t-give-up spirit and the sheer determination of the association and its members contributed significantly to our enviable position. It’s exciting to be president of the association when the pendulum is swinging back our way.
The third reason I’m counting my blessings about being your president this year is that at this time last year I was personally facing health challenges that made this seem unlikely. The word “survival” means a lot to all of us in this industry but it now has a far more personal and literal meaning to me as well.
My focus as your president is to move forward from surviving to thriving. We’re in a good place now. We’re stronger and smarter. We may have a few scars, but the scars will help us remember where we’ve been.
I look forward to a year of hard work and prosperity as we continue to make our association stronger through increased membership numbers and increased participation on the part of the members. We will look forward to even greater networking events, governmental affairs efforts, educational opportunities, marketing initiatives and charitable outreach projects as we celebrate 70 years of being a successful trade association.
Let me know how the association can help you and your business, even as I challenge you to share your time and talents with your association. It’s a two-way street, and together we’ll travel the road from survival to thriving.
Sincerely,
Daniel Blanchard
NEFBA President