Last month's column presented four different outcomes for our group based on our current situation. At the time I was confident enough that we would have enough elected officers to continue for at least another year and convert our group into a smaller organization. As I write this column the weekend after the February meeting, the answer to the question I posed last month-do you want this group to continue?-seems to be a flat "no." It seems we'll realize the second scenario, dissolution, instead-maybe as early as next month.
The February meeting's officer nomination process only produced four nominees-two for president, one for vice president, and one for treasurer. This is the first year that I can remember when at least one person wasn't nominated for each office (and at least two weren't nominated for vice president) at a nominations meeting. Undoubtedly there will be some behind-the-scenes maneuvering, but right now I'm skeptical that we'll have the required five officers for our next generation of leaders.
In the past I've talked about how this group has always groomed the next generation of leaders. Bob Mix and Dave Burhans groomed leaders like Tony Barcellos and Rick Hellewell, who in turn groomed Larry Clark and Ken Hopkins, who in turn groomed Frank Leonard and Tim Cardozo. Though it's clear that the current generation is ready to hand over the reins of leadership this year, there aren't enough members to hand the reins to.
This is not only true of elected officers but of appointed officers as well. We don't have Chris Graillat's replacement as editor. We don't have my replacements as chapter, SIG, and public relations coordinators. Beth Camero stepped down as our training coordinator. Tim Cardozo recently became advertising coordinator, but there is no one for him to coordinate. I won't be surprised if Marsha Leonard hangs up her membership pen soon now that Frank is stepping down.
The result, of course, is that Stan Morris's list of needed volunteers keeps getting longer but the only position people keep volunteering for is eBlue. The way things are going eBlue will be the only group benefit left in the next month or so.
Thank You
The number of Sacra Blue columnists is also shrinking by one, as this will be my last column in this newsletter for the foreseeable future. I need to recharge after being an active volunteer for three years. I think it's time I came home to relax instead of worrying about another deadline, and perhaps I'll discover what this "life" is that people keep talking about. I will still submit product reviews over the next few months if there is still a newsletter to submit articles to, but my column needs a rest no matter what.
I would like to congratulate and commend Chris Graillat and Dion Gomez for all their hard work in putting Sacra Blue together, and to Brian Smither for all his hard work with eBlue. Kudos to this year's appointed and elected officers for all their hard work in keeping the SPCUG running. You were all a pleasure to work with and you made the group fun to be a part of.
Yet I wonder whether next month's meeting will bring new officers or condolences. If it's the former, then that will buy our group some more time. However, you may want to come to next week's meeting in case it's the latter so you can say that you were at the final meeting of the Sacramento PC Users Group.
