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Secretary - Rick Irvine
"Oh, the years they have hurried well!" is a quote from John Clair
Minot's The Sword of Arthur. As I take a nostalgic look on my past two years
with ISM-CF and, indeed my 20 years in the procurement field (the last six with
Cirque du Soleil at Walt Disney World), I too have to agree that "the years
have hurried well"! I cannot imagine a more satisfying and gratifying
profession than procurement. I have no regrets. While I do savor those years,
they were "hurried". As a matter of fact the years have moved so
quickly that I am just now proceeding toward my C.P.M. certification, something
I've desired for all of those 20 years! Two modules down and two to go!
This will be my second year as executive secretary of ISM Central Florida
and I have the same hope and expectations for our affiliate as I did at the
beginning of my first year! But with these expectations comes the realization
that time is of the essence! If I (we) expect to accomplish any goals we put
before us, we must put one foot in front of the other! We must begin now! I am
the first to say I have not done all I could have this past year! But I promise
you, with this letter, I am putting my first foot forward!
I know your Board is committed to the Affiliate but they cannot do it themselves. We need membership participation! Many of our members have offered their time and special abilities in the past. Hopefully they will continue to do so and inspire others to do the same.
As I said earlier, I've become nostalgic. Not to bore you with my past (or history), but I came from a very small town, Somers Iowa population 198 people. When I was being raised there C.P.M. meant Cows, Pigs, & Manure. As you can see, we were very naïve back then. Most of our goals were to take over the family farm or go for the big bucks and become a teacher. In looking back at the goals I had set for myself I realize I could never have envisioned where I am today. Instead, I had just put one foot in front of the other. I see now that I don't want to lose sight of that urge to strive forward – and neither should you.
Somewhere up the road, we should all want to be able to look back and say
"Oh, the years they have hurried well"!
Thank you for allowing me the honor of being your Executive Secretary.
Sincerely, Richard
(Rick) Irvine
Executive Secretary
ISM-CF
