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"I am absolutely thrilled to be singled out
for this award. Thank you NYAHSA
for this honor. I also offer
heartfelt thanks to my husband and family who drove long distances to
be with me today. They have always been my examples and my support.
This occasion has made me ask myself “Why be a trustee? ” My answer is the people. As is true with most awards, I’m not really standing here by myself but on the shoulders of many others. As a trustee I get to work with extraordinary people from many fields: from investment banking, social work, education, real estate, marketing, religion. These are experts I wouldn’t necessarily meet in the course of my banking jobs. At Aging in America my fellow board members are always
on hand with experience, humor and balance. Difficult personnel decisions?
I can call on a management professional for advice and an investment
banker for courage. Difficult
financial negotiations? Call
on a real estate developer. A
full CEO search? Call on a lawyer, a publishing executive and
a biologist and they all are there for every interview. My fellow trustees have always been there with
total support. Then
there’s Aging in America’s professional staff.
What we trustees do part-time, they do as a career commitment. They are on the ground serving our aging clients
and residents. They manage EVERYTHING,
including, of course, the board. I
take my hat off to the staff at Aging in America as well as to the professionals
at other NYAHSA facilities. Your
dedication gets my applause. In
particular, Bill Smith our CEO makes my job easy. When the board sets a vision or direction,
Bill can make it happen. He
is a delight to work with. Folks often ask me if I’m a trustee because I want
to “give back to the community.” That’s
all backwards. It’s not an equation
where IF I get success or affluence, THEN I can give. Not at all. I feel
satisfaction when I see seniors getting needed services. I feel satisfaction when I work with
professionals who deliver services.
I feel satisfaction when I work with a board team to set
an achievable vision. I give
what I can as a trustee. But
I’m the one who gets back the rewards of satisfaction, of learning,
and of friendship. So the way I see the equation, I’m
the lucky one. Thank you." |
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