Our President, Deborah McGrath’s message to the Innisfil District Association’s Annual General Meeting September 19, 2020
Thank you again for your presence here today. I am honoured to be addressing you and to thank you for your continued support. This year, there is an added sense of urgency and gravitas in my remarks.
Seven years ago, Forbes author George Anders wrote an article entitled ‘The Number One Job Skill for 2020’.
Not only was it prescient, he could not have been more accurate in his casual observance.
Though I suggest that the title be amended to read “The Number One Skill for 2020”
That skill?
It’s a small word – that begins with an “E” and ends with a “Y”.
It can have a massive impact on everything we do.
Got it?
EMPATHY!
I am sure you’ll agree that this past year, we have needed a boatload of Empathy!
The IDA has experienced challenges, changes, and opportunities.
Challenges:
Our Challenges are no different than many organizations:
How do we:
- Stay relevant
- Provide value to our members
- Meet our Mission, Vision and Goals
For over 4 decades, the IDA has been present in this community and that may come as a surprise to some. We have maintained a distinct presence in major decisions affecting this community.
While the idea of a Ratepayer’s Association may seem quaint or outdated, the IDA has faced many challenges and overcome many more. We are here and will continue to be here for you in the future.
One of our biggest challenges was updating our social media and we are incredibly pleased to present our new website, thanks in large part to Board Director, Karen Kessler. Her expertise has pushed us in to the 21st century and we hope you are enjoying the e-newsletters and updates. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue working with strategic alliances such as the coalitions of Rescue Lake Simcoe & Simcoe County Greenbelt, Lake Simcoe Watch. So too do we value our relationships with Municipal, Provincial and Federal leaders. The IDA is considered a “Community Leader” and we take that responsibility seriously.
As we work on those questions of relevance, value and meeting our organizational goals, we challenge you to reach out to us, share your thoughts, ideas and concerns. If we have learned nothing else this year, we’ve learned that we need each other – to engage in debate, dialogue and discourse, to problem solve, to have empathy.
Changes:
Our Changes are primarily with our Board.
As many of you know, earlier this year, we lost Board Director, Stuart Marwick. A member since 2003, Stuart was a passionate advocate for environmental protection and sustainability and had an enormous capacity for thinking outside the box.
In celebration of his life, the IDA established a $500 Bursary for a student of Nantyr Shores SS 2020-2021 Graduating Class, who best support’s Stuart’s legacy.
Other Board changes include the departures of Stan Daurio and Scott Clark.
Stan was instrumental in helping negotiate the Bursary and has helped provide clarity and insight on several issues. We thank him for his contribution.
Scott Clark recently stepped away for family health reasons. We thank Scott for his contribution and wish him and his family well.
Perhaps the toughest announcement I have had to make is for Don Avery, whom we consider to be the “Godfather of the IDA”. After decades of service, Don stepped down as an active Board Director and continues in an advisory role. We are thankful for his selfless leadership, these past decades. His legacy is his greatest gift; a resident’s association left stronger for his guidance, his generosity of spirit and his calm wisdom.
We are working on the right way to thank Don, so please stay tuned!
Please join me in recognizing the years of service from each of these Directors.
As we navigate a world changed by Covid-19, we need to be more resilient and more determined than ever to meet our goals. There has been suffering on an immense scale, perhaps the greatest suffering has been environmental. Supporting the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan review and keeping our eyes on the every-changing landscape is a deep and ongoing commitment.
Opportunity
At a time when so many organizations are clamoring for support, contributions and involvement, I recognize that it is tough to choose.
Choose well.
Choose to spend your time, energy and yes, money, in the community in which you live, work and play.
The Board of 2020-2021
I would like to end where I began – with our amazing Board. It is important to note that we all are volunteers. We are non-partisan, and not-for-profit. We depend on your annual membership fees to continue the work we do which is in large part to inform and involve Innisfil residents in what matters to us all.
None of this is possible without our remarkable Board members:
- Mary Borthwick – Who has kept us on track and supported throughout so much change; her invaluable help with the AGM every year is much appreciated!
- Mary Jane Brinkos – She has deep roots in this community and has helped us weather many storms.
- Lynn Chepurnyj – One of the longest-serving members on our Board, she has kept us financially sound and that is a VERY BIG deal!
- Tim Clark – Managing us, keeping track of our commitments and making us look good in the pictures, and then there’s the ginger snaps!
- Dave Collacutt – Deeply appreciated for his steady calm presence and voice of wisdom and guidance.
- Karen Kessler – Change agent and coach extraordinaire – our 21st century media platform is thanks to her!
- Ross Pityk – We all benefit from his commitment, candour, and clarity – and he plays a mean piano!
- Jane Smith – Capturing our changes, challenges and opportunities is a huge job and I’m thankful for her constancy and her kindness.
- Deborah McGrath – that leaves me! 7 years on the Board, this is my last term as President and I am eternally grateful for the learning, the laughter, and the lessons!
Finally, to our strategic alliances, partners and members, we thank you for your continued interest in and commitment to the IDA.
We are here because of you, and we are here to stay…Helping Shape Tomorrow’s Innisfil Today.