As I reflect on my tenure as the President of NPVA, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to have served you. This year, which seemed to fly by, was marked by significant achievements for our Association.
Upon assuming office, I pledged to build upon the success of the previous Board. To achieve this, I outlined a set of goals for the Association, encompassing short-term, mid-term, and new initiatives. These goals were designed to aligned with the board’s objectives and address priority concerns, integrating input from both our members and the Board.
Short term Goals (within six months) were to integrate new faces leading committees, NPVA Newsletter, and a new veteran welcome letter.
- Committee integration and Leadership: We successfully integrated new leaders into key committees. Notably, the Flag Placement Captains, Howard Goodhand and Booby Turner, led a team of 21 volunteers. They revolutionized our process, reducing time spent on the street by 125%.
- NPVA Newsletter and Veteran Welcome Letter: The launch of the ‘Veteran Voice’newsletter by Bill Newmiller, Kim Callene, and Trish White was a milestone was a milestone. Not only did it provide critical information to the community, but it also evolved into the informative website “Noble’s Pond Veterans’ Association” (www.npvets.org ). Additionally, our welcome letter initiative, successfully attracted new members to our Association
Mid-Term Goals (six months – 11 months) were to review our Bylaws, Campaign to increase active membership, and Provide an environment for every member’s voice to be heard.
- Bylaws Review: The review committee consisted of Board members, immediate past-president (Walt Waite), one former president (Bob Sly), and two new members (Tom Mehl and Howard Goodhand). The review process resulted in an overhauled of the original version which was adopted by our members in November 2023., delineating our purpose and operational guidelines.
- Membership Campaign: Although the Campaign initiative did not materialize, we saw a 7% increase in active membership.
- Member Voices: Under my leadership, we ensured that every member’s voice was heard and respected, adhering to Robert’s Rules of Order and fostering a participatory environment. This was a huge hurdle in overcoming past practices. Overwhelming, numbers of members voiced their approval of this change.
2023 New Initiatives: The focus was on transitioning to a member-driven Association. We saw remarkable participation in initiatives such as the NPVA Veteran’s Roster (Howard Goodhand), Sunshine Coordinators, Polo Shirts Committee, and the Flag Day Ceremony (Dee Sullivan and Patty Wysong). These efforts demonstrated our members’ commitment and leadership.
Community Engagement and Field Trips
Our involvement in community events like the July 2nd Sunday Grilling (Moe Moy) and the Honor Flight experience reflected our dedication to both community and veteran causes. The fundraising initiatives, led by Bob Sly and Walt Waite, were particularly successful, raising a record amount for the Association.
Traditional Community Events
We maintained our presence in traditional events like the Memorial Day Ceremony, Veteran’s Day Ceremony (Dee Sullivan), the July 4th Parade, and the Christmas Parade. These events were executed with professionalism and enthusiasm by both veteran and non-veteran volunteers.
Special Acknowledgement to NP Donors and Contributors: Bingo Committee (Tony Lupo); Quilts of Valor (Barb Sansone); Noble Voices (Bonnie Forgacs); Videographer (David Marcus); and the many Anonymous Donors.
Gratitude and Conclusion
My heartfelt thanks go to the Noble’s Pond family for your unwavering support during my presidency. Your generosity allowed us to distribute $6,100 to various non-profit veteran organizations. I also extend my gratitude to the Board (Santo, Patti, Patrick, and Sal) for their exceptional teamwork and to the membership for their trust and support.
With My Sincere gratitude,
Joyce Jamison
President, NPVA
Updated 1/6/2023