Can you hear it? Summer is knocking on our front doors and all the wonderful things that come along with it. Being from Texas, you would think that I would not be looking forward to the summer heat, but it truly is my favorite time of the year. I am fortunate to live in a great city and lucky enough to be only a couple of hours away from a great beach. It is here where you will find me soaking up the tranquility that the water brings, with my feet in the sand waiting for the water temperatures to rise enough to jump in and enjoy!  

As I was making a day trip to our beautiful beach today, I thought about how it relates to our membership with ICES. There are members who drive by and enjoy the view, never really wanting anything more, never making their way to the water. For whatever reason, driving by is enough for them, and they never pull over to get out and enjoy the view. Are you a member who belongs to ICES, but really isn’t taking advantage of all it has to offer?  

The summertime can be a bit crazy, our beach cities can actually double in size during the summer months with all our tourists. We have a beautiful coastline and gorgeous beach. Many take advantage of the beach, spending the day there, often wading into the sometime chilly water. Is this the type of member you are? Do you find satisfaction by being part of a committee, assisting with the conference or contributing to the newsletter? These acts are opportunities for you, our member, to test the waters. These experiences are designed to help you get involved and decide if you would like to go a bit further into the water and become more involved.    

Then there are others who live for and enjoy the beach. This type of member is looking forward to being fully immersed in the glorious water on a hot summer day. This is the member who has chosen to become involved with a board position, or raise their hands for leadership positions within the organization. Is this you? Are you wishing to become more involved?

It’s that time of year. Local ICES Chapters are holding elections. The Nominations and Elections Committee has been busy selecting the individuals who will take ICES to the next level. Whether you are a beach dweller or a lake swimmer, I hope you will exercise your right to vote for the future of ICES. The nomination process has not yet ended, if you are ready to put your toes in the water, it isn’t too late to step up your involvement with ICES. There are multiple opportunities to become more involved and to increase your involvement with ICES. I challenge you to think about how you can enjoy this season of life and become more involved. It might be as simple as becoming more involved at the local level. Or, you might choose to make the commitment to run for the Board of Directors. There are multiple ways you can take your involvement to the next level. Is it time for you to raise your hand to assist with a committee? To register for a webinar? To come to your first convention? Only you know.    

Seasons seem to go by so quickly, so I have learned that the best way to enjoy them is to jump in and make the most of it! I hope you will jump in and enjoy all the ICES has to offer you! I look forward to working with you.

Suzy