|  | | MESPA Home > Press Room > MESPA President's Messages |  | Thanks for the Memories!
 | | Dick Oscarson, MESPA President |
May 2009 --
from MESPA President Richard Oscarson
“On behalf of the MESPA Board of Directors I want to thank each of our 950-plus members for your membership in MESPA.”
The 2008-09 school year is quickly coming to a close. This is my 33rd year in education as a teacher or a principal and each school year seems to go by faster and faster. If you are retiring at the end of the school year, on behalf of all MESPA members I express my sincere gratitude for your dedication and work as a principal. We wish you our very best as you move to the next chapter in your life.
For the rest of us, be sure to take some time away from the office this summer to recharge your batteries for the 2009-10 school year. A little secret I learned many years ago was that the work will be waiting for you when you return. It won’t go anyplace. Personally, I try to get away from the office for all of July. By August I’m ready to return, or at least my wife is ready for me to return to work.
Before I go any further, on behalf of the MESPA Board of Directors I want to thank each of our 950-plus members for your membership in MESPA. A special thank you goes to the MESPA Board of Directors, the committee chairs and their committee members for their work on MESPA’s strategic plan goals this year. I encourage anyone interested in serving on a MESPA committee next year to contact your division president or MESPA Executive Director Fred Storti for more information. And of course, remember to send in your 2009-10 MESPA membership form and dues by August 3.
This is my last column for the MESPA Advocate, as I am coming to the close of my two-year term as MESPA president. What a tremendous opportunity it has been for me to work with some of the finest people from around our state and country. I enjoyed the chance I had to get to know and learn from principals from all 12 divisions; be it at our Institutes, Board of Director meetings, Roger’s Legal Issues seminars, or division meetings.
I also want to thank the members of our MESPA Executive Board: Jean Clark, Jon Millerhagen, and Pat Pribyl for their work the past few years for our MESPA members. Jon will be our next MESPA president beginning in July, with Kris Stueve coming on board as president-elect. I know they both will be outstanding servant leaders for our association.
And a special thank you goes to the MESPA office staff: Olivia, Rosie, Joan, and Judy for always making me look good. You’re the best! Last, but not least having the chance to work closely with Fred Storti has been the most professionally rewarding experience I have had as a principal. Under Fred’s leadership, MESPA is and will be in great financial and professional shape for many years to come.
Words cannot adequately express how much I have enjoyed representing and serving the elementary and middle level principals of Minnesota. It truly has been an honor and privilege to be your MESPA president. Thank you for the opportunity. Oh, by the way, I’ll be back next year as past-president.
Have a great summer!
|
|
