EDUCATION CHAIR GREETING

Steve & Beth Moyski

YPOlitics?  Why Politics?!?!   When planning for the education year, we were encouraged to “theme” the year.  We went back and forth on a number of ideas but locked quickly on the general theme of politics.  Why??

Well, there is the obvious reason: In August 2008, Denver will be the center of the Democratic Party’s launch of its candidate’s run toward the November election and possibly the White House.  In January 2009, we will see the second swearing in of a President this millennium – the 44th in our Country’s history.

There is a slightly less obvious reason: The advice is to always pick something you are passionate about…and we are political junkies.  Beth is a moderate Democrat (the derogatory term is limousine liberal) and Steve a moderate Republican (and the derisive RINO for him).  While there is plenty we agree on, there is a lot of spirited debate around issues and candidates…and we both read so much news that we are following national, state and local politics – as well as out of state politics.

The risk we saw was the possibility that there are many in the Chapter who do not share our passion would grow weary of the topic, and, likely we all will tire of political ads, debates and even the candidates by or before November.  Then we found a broader definition of politics that captures what they are all about:  how individuals in a group obtain power over others.  Politics is power!  We realize when we talk about the politics in our office, our church or synagogue, our family, the boardroom, the bedroom, and in all the public and private corners of our lives we are talking about how we receive and give power.  What could be a more appropriate theme for a group of leaders who are constantly focused on how they maintain power in their organizations and then puzzle over why their home life doesn’t work exactly the same way?

In this election year, we invite you to elect to learn, elect to play, elect to push yourself and elect to have fun along with us.

We are excited for the year!  We are humbled by the number of people who are helping and many more who volunteered to help as we go along.  We thank you and look forward to seeing you along our journey through the year.