This inauguration declaration marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Board of Directors, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a strong leadership and membership can provide it.
You have given me a great responsibility–to stay close to you, to be worthy of you, and to exemplify what you are. Let us create together a spirit of unity and trust. Your strength can compensate for my weakness, and your wisdom can help to minimize my mistakes.
Let us learn together and laugh together and work together and pray together, confident that in the end we will triumph together in the right. We have learned that “more” is not necessarily “better,” that even our great Association has its recognized limits, and that we can neither answer all questions nor solve all problems.
We cannot afford to do everything, nor can we afford to lack boldness as we meet the future. So, together, in a spirit of individual sacrifice for the common good, we must simply do our best.
Within us, there is evident a serious and purposeful rekindling of confidence. And I join in the hope that when my time as your President has ended, members might say this about our Association:
– that we had torn down the barriers where there had been mistrust and in its place built unity, with a respect for diversity of interests;
– that we had found productive work for those able to perform it;
– that we had strengthened the Sportsman’s family, which is the basis of our Association;
– that we had enabled our constituents to be proud of their own Membership once again.
– and that we had remembered the words of Micah and renewed our search for humility, mercy, and justice;
“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6: 8)
These are not just my goals, and they will not be my accomplishments, but the affirmation of our Associations continuing moral strength and our belief in an undiminished, ever-expanding community.
Your humble servant.
