My Brothers,
What a Convention! For those who were in attendance, it was great to see so many familiar faces and celebrate together the accomplishments of the year! For those who were not in attendance, you missed a great time and I hope to see you next year. Kudos to Darren Johnson and the District 4 Councils who organized the events, great job and much appreciated.
This will be my last article as State Treasurer, and I am grateful for the opportunity to move up and fill some pretty big shoes as your next State Secretary. Greg Mahoney has done a great job and set the bar high. He is going to make a great State Deputy. My only regret for the past two years is that I never got to show the three hour video presentation I created on how to write checks - - I am sure you all would have found it enthralling!
As I mentioned in my closing remarks at the Convention, this is a bittersweet time, a time of change. We welcome a new State Officer, Dang Nguyen, as State Warden. I look forward to working with Dang and know he brings a unique set of skills with him. We welcome new challenges as the State Officers advance to the next chair. At the same time, we say good bye to our Immediate Past State Deputy Pat Kelley. I have enjoyed my time and travels with Pat, and am sorry they are coming to an end. We are fortunate that he has agreed to stay on as a chairman! We also see Kim Washburn step into the IPSD role. He has provided leadership, strength of character and perseverance through difficult times, and I admire him greatly. Again, we are fortunate that he is taking on an old/new role as the Tootsie Roll chairman.
I would like to thank, too, Scott Hulse and Dave Olwell, for their support, friendship and examples as strong Catholic leaders. I have learned from each of them and depend upon them heavily. Truly, some of the finest men I know and I am honored to serve with them.
As we put the wraps on the fraternal year, my challenge to you is keep your foot on the gas. We have worked so hard to come out of the pandemic doldrums and become active again, let’s not take anything for granted. Schedule those programs, recruit that man, be the very visible symbol of strong Catholic men in your community!
My sincere thanks to you, the men of the Washington State Council, for your hard work over the past year. It is an honor to be able to serve you.
Vivat Jesus!