As I sit here, reflecting back on the entire history of the virtual community that we know as CSINext, I’m amazed that we’ve come so far, so fast...for you see, this is the end of my second go-around as President of this Chapter. The first one was our first “official” year, even though I’d spent the previous 18 months running around in the background trying to pull everything together to make the concept of a “virtual Chapter” a reality.
In hindsight, it’s nothing short of a miracle that we’re even here. We got LOTS of resistance from almost everyone. CSI is a longstanding bastion of tradition...and we’re anything BUT a traditional Chapter. Case in Point: this year, the Institute changed it’s logo. I was contacted by the folks that make our podium banners and table drapes to find out what our chapter mailing address was. I pointed out that we didn’t really have one, as we were a virtual chapter, but this person was relentless. I explained that we didn’t need them...and was told that we got them anyway. I’m now the proud holder of two beautiful pieces of fabric with CSI logos adorning them...that we have absolutely no way to use. I have a little button that describes my attitude toward such stuff. It says “I used to be disgusted...now I’m just amused”.
All trivial silliness aside, we’re lucky to be here. The board that year was fairly resistive...some folks far more than others. We had folks from groups like the Fellows who were in abject opposition to a “virtual” anything. But we also had some of the most brilliant and innovative minds in the Institute working behind the scenes to help us get moving. Folks like Bob Dye, Bryan Varner, Paul Bertram, Robert Mallory...there are simply too many folks to name here, but rest assured their efforts made CSINext a reality.
And let us not forget our “inside help” from Joy Davis at the Institute itself. Her vision and direction helped us navigate both the political and procedural to get us to the point that we’re at now.
So where are we? CSINext is moving ahead in a number of ways. We’ve just undergone a major website overhaul, bringing the underlying structure up to current standards for security and usability. We are financially sound, are growing in membership and participation and even have “corporate” sponsorship for our newly added GoToMeeting account...all in all, we’re a lot healthier than most “brick and mortar” chapters.
Our leadership is strong, led by Cynthia Belisle. Cyn owes me a debt of gratitude for making her upcoming year as President one of relative ease and high praise...for you see, she can do just about nothing at all and she’ll still make me look bad. Knowing her, “just about nothing” isn’t in her vocabulary, instead, that phrase is typically “just about everything”. I wish you nothing but the best in the upcoming year, Cyn.
Speaking of “me” for the last year, I’d like to close with a word of praise for a very special member of the chapter...Daniel Hargreaves. Daniel has been one of the CSINext team from very early on, having built the original CSINext “real” website. He’s been involved throughout the entire process, even when weathering some pretty significant “life happens” issues. He’s been the central axle around which everything here at CSINext revolves.
In the book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, it says that the role of the President of the Galaxy’s job is not to wield power, but to distract attention away from it. That’s a pretty good description of my role over the last year...and a tribute to that of Daniel. Over the last year, I’ve had some pretty major issues going on in my personal life, issues that have had me running around trying to keep what’s left of my sanity together and leaving precious little time to help out with CSINext work. Daniel has become my hero by keeping things going even with a mostly absentee President. I make no bones about it, he’s the real power behind the curtain and he wields that power with grace and humility that is simply amazing.
To sum it all up, the trip has been long, it has indeed been strange, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. This last year has proven to me once again that the single greatest benefit of membership in CSI is the fellowship with some really incredible, enlightened and magnificent people. I’m humbled just to say I know a lot of these folks and I’m looking forward to the future of our Chapter and the innovations that we’re going to contribute to the future of our Institute.