Farewell as President

“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”

― Abraham Lincoln

ASCE is a success because of all the committed and capable volunteers that put their time into this organization. I am one of the many ASCE members that when asked how did you get into this position, can joke that I was somewhat “voluntold.” I was asked by a friend who thought I would do a good job and I said yes. Now as I prepare my farewell as president and look back at all the experiences I’ve had, I am honestly grateful for all the challenges and opportunities, and grateful for getting the little push of encouragement to be more involved in ASCE.

I want to take this time to thank you for lending your ear to my monthly thoughts and passions shared in this newsletter. I thank ASCE for challenging me to do things I would have normally shied away from. And I thank my ASCE friends for believing in me and providing the support to be successful. Having the opportunity to bond with members from all over the Region and from many backgrounds, participating in leadership conferences, and being engaged in local meetings and activities has been a truly enriching experience that will have a lasting positive affect on me personally and professionally. I encourage everyone to not just wait until you are “voluntold” for these opportunities but to seek them out and realize how much you are capable of doing.

The volunteers we also know as ASCE members continue to impress me with their enthusiasm for the industry and ingenuity to spread this message even in such unprecedented times. Our Arizona Annual Conference committee has been meeting regularly to collaborate on a plan to adapt to this new, virtual world and provide a meaningful experience. Details are provided below. The event will include the official induction of new officers and award and scholarship recipients. The Phoenix Branch has persevered in this pandemic, not only continuing to hold luncheons virtually with great speakers and material, but they have also used this as an opportunity to reach a wider audience, reaching out to other branches whose members may want to attend luncheons and posting the videos of the webinars on the Arizona Section website. Last but not least, we had the Arizona Report Card release held virtually this past month. The attendance was excellent, and we look forward to follow up activities to reach out to politicians and inform them of the need to invest in our infrastructure. The report card and presentation can be found on the ASCE Report Card website along with the national report and reports available from other states. You can download an App for easy reference to share with your politicians, friends and family and tell them how important it is to invest in our future!

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Breanna