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Christmas message from the President
Does our President have connections or what?!
Dear Sisters,
It doesn’t seem possible that our ESA year is half over and that it’s almost Christmas. My Christmas wish is that each of you are blessed with Seasons of Love, Joy and Peace. I hope we will share many more seasons in the years to come. I received the attached YouTube by email the other day and want to send it to you along with my Christmas wishes as a reminder of the “Reason for The Season”.
With Seasons of ESA Love,
Marsha
Click on the Nativity picture to view THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS told from the perspective of a child. 
2010-2011 Kansas State Council State President's Acceptance Speech
Marhsa Barnes - 2011-2012 Kansas State President
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, family, and friends. I would like to introduce my family who are here this evening. If you would please stand. My daughter Dana Neal and my two favorite granddaughters, Abigail and Megan Neal.
My son David, and his wife, my daughter in-law, Kate. Thank you all so much for sharing this with me this evening.
Kim, you are leaving some pretty big shoes to fill. Thank you for your leadership and for just being you. You’ve been there for me so many times. I cherish our friendship that has grown over these past few years. Steve, thank you so much for believing in Kim and encouraging her to continue on this journey and for sharing her with ESA.
To all of the District H members, thank you so much for all of your hard work. It’s been a wonderful weekend.
Vicky, we are so glad you were able to travel all the way from Kentucky to share in our convention. It has been a pleasure getting to know you. ESA is fortunate to have you
as one of our leaders.
Pat and Clara, the installation was beautiful. Thank you for such a special evening. I know you put a lot of thought and love into the planning and I will always remember it.
Barb, thank you for being part of this wonderful evening. You’ve been a special person in my life for many years and I appreciate you sharing the special gift God has given you.
Anna Kitchen, you can do more with Gossamer and a glue gun than anyone I know. Thank you for agreeing to do the decorating for the installation, as usual you’ve done a fantastic job.
Will my Delta Chi sisters, and Marshall Love, please stand. Thank you for not only being here tonight but for your friendship, encouragement and support. It means so much to me that so many of you were able to be here this weekend. Marshall, thanks for standing in for Elbert over
the past several years. I know you two talked about many things and I’m sure this was one of them. Thank you again for everything from both of us.
Will my District C sister please stand also. Thank you all for being a part of the honor guard tonight. Each and every one of you is very special to me and I am so glad you could be a part of this evening.
It’s very overwhelming and humbling to be standing here tonight. Being President of the Kansas State Council of Epsilon Sigma Alpha was never a goal that I set for myself. This is something you do not do alone and each of you has been a part of this journey. Every one of you in one way or another has guided, directed or encouraged me to continue along this path. I do not remember the first board position I held but I do remember that years ago Clara Ginn and I attended our first State Council meeting in Pratt. We didn’t know anyone but we decided to go see what actually happened at a State Council meeting. And, as they say, the rest is history. We’ve both been encouraged over the years to run for State President but we were both content to just help out where we were needed.
Clara’s answer to being state president was always “When Hell Freezes Over” and I replied that I would run a couple of years after Clara was President so as to not put any extra burden on our chapter. Well she hasn’t officially been president but she had enough responsibilities as corresponding secretary for Phyllis Wheaton that she knows what all is involved, and here I am right behind her.
So Clara I have a little gift for you. And I just want to say: Bundle up Sister, I think it’s getting cold down there. This morning I asked the candidates to choose one word for this year. A word that would help them focus on what they want to accomplish or something that was meaningful to them and to tell why. The words they chose were very interesting.
My word for the year will be EXTRODINARY. I think this word describes ESA and all that it stands for: An EXTRODINARY group of men and women, accomplishing EXTRODINARY things, with EXTRODINARY talents developing EXTRODINARY friendships thru an EXTRODINARY organization.
Every year ESA raises millions of dollars for St. Jude, supports Easter Seals, Goodwill and Heartspring not only monetarily but also with time, gifts and talents. But we don’t stop there. We give children and adults the opportunity to better their selves with scholarships thru the ESA Foundation. We support our individual communities with our donations of time, money and good works. We are always there for our own members whether it is to help financially after a disaster or just giving a hug for encouragement.
What an EXTRODINARY bunch of men and women. I challenge each of you to also choose a word for the year and we’ll see the effect it has at the end of the year.
In addition to this challenge, my president’s challenge this coming year is the Hospice programs. Many communities have a local Hospice, usually not for profit. I challenge you to get involved with these programs. Volunteers are needed as well as donations. Some have waiting areas in hospitals or clinics and cookies or other refreshments are always welcome. Check with the Hospice in your area to see what they might benefit from the most.
My theme for next year is “Seasons of ESA”. Season is defined as A Period Of Time. We have gone thru many seasons in ESA together, not just winter, spring, summer and fall. Not all of our seasons were ones we would have chosen for ourselves but we got thru them together. I look forward to sharing with you, all of the different seasons that lay ahead of us.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 says:
There is a time for everything,
and everything on earth has it’s special season.
There is a time to be born
and a time to die.
There is a time to plant
and a time to pull up plants.
There is a time to kill
and a time to heal.
There is a time to destroy
and a time to build.
There is a time to cry
and a time to laugh.
There is a time to be sad
and a time to dance.
There is a time to throw away stones
and a time to gather them.
There is a time to hug
and a time not to hug.
There is a time to look for something
and a time to stop looking for it.
There is a time to keep things
and a time to throw things away.
There is a time to tear apart
and a time to sew together.
There is a time to be silent
and a time to speak.
There is a time to love
and a time to hate.
There is a time for war
and a time for peace.
Season, a period of time: Time spent holding bake sales, working in concession stands, putting smiles on faces, creating opportunities, donating money, helping strangers, supporting our troops or just making a difference. There are many seasons in ESA and like winter, spring, summer and fall none are predictable and they are never the same.
I received a lot of advice when I started writing this acceptance speech but I think the best advice for a good speech comes from a quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt who said: “Be sincere; Be brief; Be seated.”
Thank you all for the seasons we have shared in the past and I look forward to those that lay ahead of us in the future. Have a great evening.
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Kim's Farewell speech as the Kansas State Council President
Dear Sisters and Friends,
I can’t begin to tell you what this year has meant to me. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as your State President. A year ago I stood before you and shared with you that at one time I had no desire to run for state president but here I am and as they say “been there / done that”. I was blessed that Steve encouraged me from the beginning not to have any regrets and to go as much as I wanted too…so I did. I loved every District meeting and special event I attended. I have kept a journal of my year and will cherish the memories. I encouraged you at state board weekends to Let Your Life Speak by doing hands on projects – a chance to “do good” for others while spending time together. You all out did yourselves and we had great hands on activities but most importantly we laughed & had fun.
I have had non ESA friends say to me, “now that you are done being president are you going to quit and do nothing?” I just smile because as we know, once it’s in your blood – you are hooked. I am ready for a slower year but I will continue to stay actively involved in my chapter, district and the state level so that I can give back to all of you that made this year so wonderful for me. I thank each of you that served on the State Council, attended board meetings, and came to Great Bend for State Convention. This year may almost be a wrap but Marsha continues to need your support for the coming year and Phyllis the year after that. It is time for you to think, I can do it and take the next step as a committee member, chairman or run for elective office.
I appreciate each of you in this room but ladies we must get serious about increasing our membership. We have a LOT of experience in this room which is wonderful but what we are missing is the inexperienced to share it with. Let’s grow ESA! So that our future conventions are twice this size.
Last year I posed the question, “How will you let your life speak today, tomorrow, next year?” I encourage you to continue to live your life in a way that positively impacts those around you. A smile to a stranger may be all that it requires some days but take time to smile. We don’t always know the path we are destined but with life there are often peaks & valleys, dead ends and straight shots. This path often takes us through many different seasons…hope, despair, love, fall, spring – the one constant though is that in ESA we always have friendship.
Marsha, thank you for the friendship & support you have given me. You will guide us to great things this coming year with your organization, leadership and compassion. I am excited to serve on your board as we begin to discover the Seasons of ESA.
In closing I will leave you with this organic commandment from Frank Lloyd Wright: Love is the virtue of the Heart ... Sincerity the virtue of the mind ... Courage the virtue of the spirit ... Decision the virtue of the will.
Thank you & continue to let your life speak!
Kim Kummer
2010-2011 State President
Thank you Kim! You have been our inspiration to let our lives speak. We promise to continue the journey.
Contact the Kansas State Council:
E-mail: WEBMASTER