President's message - ROAL

The holidays and Mid-Winter are quickly approaching. This is the time of year when families get together to celebrate the end of the current year and the beginning of the next. Shortly after we rejoice in the new year, we gather at ROA/ROAL's Mid-Winter Conference to plan for the continuation of ROAL's year and the National Convention, which will signal the end of my year. We are fresh from the holidays where we worked together with our families and friends to make the season memorable. So we are in that "cooperation" mood, ready to plan our strategies and make the rest of the ROAL year a memorable one.

Cooperation is the act of working together, a united effort. We in ROAL have a unique cooperation (united effort) with ROA. We work to a common good, which no individual could accomplish alone. I have found in most cases that asking ROA is all it takes to accomplish cooperation. They are interested in seeing that we succeed in accomplishing our goals. So I hope you are looking forward to working together the rest of the year to make our future happen. Be prepared for an in-depth discussion on implementation of the Strategic Plan Direction at the Mid Winter Conference. Now that the plan is indeed fact, we need to take the next steps.

I attended the California fall planning meeting in Los Angeles. I was able to update the ROAL department and attended their two meetings. I also attended a condensed ROA Leadership Academy presented by several ROA ExCom members. On Saturday, I spoke at the ROA/ROAL combined luncheon, where all were very receptive. That evening at the banquet, special guests were present. Kelly Hope, son of the late comedian Bob Hope, and Mr. Ward Grant, the Bob Hope family business manager, accepted the ROA Minuteman of the Year award and a special ROA Department of California award on behalf of Bob Hope. Months before, the ROA Department of California had planned to make a presentation to Bob Hope, but unfortunately he left us before the conference.

Thank you, California, for a wonderful time.

We are making plans for Mid-Winter, and I hope all of you can attend to lend your opinions and expertise in the planning of ROAL.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and 111 see you in Washington, D.C.

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