Get Involved in ASHI

As I finish up my last weeks as ASHI President, I find myself looking back on my experiences as a leader and recalling all the people I’ve met on this journey. My message to you this month is that you don’t have to be a “big player” to make this journey—you only have to start by being involved.

For me, it started when members of my local chapter encouraged me to help with a special project. At the time, we were facing state licensing issues, and the chapter needed a committee to follow the bill and represent the chapter when needed. I, along with a few others, met with various groups of inspectors and state-elected officials to keep up on the issues and report back to our chapter members.

From there, my involvement led to serving as the chapter president and then as a member of the national Council of Representatives (CoR). After serving on the CoR for a few years, I ran for and served on the ASHI Board of Directors. Even at that point, I had no idea that I would ever become ASHI President. If you think I knew exactly what I was doing and how to proceed, you are wrong. It takes time and experience, gained by simply being involved, to navigate this path and become confident so that you can help effectively. It was not my goal to become president; I only wanted to be involved and that path led me here. It’s been worth it. By becoming involved with my chapter, the CoR and serving on different committees, I began to meet people who made lasting impressions on me and the way I act as a leader and as an individual.

I’m amazed when I think of all the people it takes to make this organization run and what the members and leaders have accomplished over the last 40 years. The ASHI volunteers who operate in the background are the backbone of this organization. There are people whom I’ve become in awe of— some are well-known and some you’d never hear about unless you participate in or learn about the committees on which they work. I’ve learned that until you start working your way through this organization and volunteering your own time on its behalf, you will never get to know these dedicated people. In many cases, they are smarter and harder-working than I ever could be, but they are content to do their jobs and rarely receive any public acknowledgment. The pleasure of getting to know these people— committee members, committee chairs or just a person who was asked to serve on a task force—will be something I will remember fondly about my time as president and it’s what has directed me as a leader. Don’t get me wrong, some of these people have had entirely different goals and ideas for the direction of ASHI. But what makes them effective leaders is their desire to work together to create solutions for the betterment of the society. 

My point is, the only way to make a change is to be involved and to do that, you must volunteer. You don’t have to be an experienced leader, you only need the desire to help and the willingness to follow through. With the new year just ahead of us, it’s an opportunity to reflect on our goals and how we spend our time. I can’t encourage you enough to get involved and volunteer for ASHI at the chapter or national level. I know that with our newly expanded membership—we now have more than 8,000 members—it will take the commitment of many volunteers to run this organization. My advice is to start small. Get involved and share some of your time and ideas. You’ll find your own path as it unfolds; just let it lead you. If you are unsure how to volunteer, the first step is simple: Ask any leader in ASHI, including and especially the president. Don’t be shy! As I’ve explained, we are not much different from anyone else in this organization. Your reward for volunteering will be bigger than you can imagine—from the terrific people you’ll meet to the lifelong friendships that will develop.

Next month, I’ll be thanking a lot of specific people who’ve helped me on my journey as president, but for now, I’d like to thank all of you: the volunteers and future volunteers of this organization.

Until next month, do the best job you can, and be safe.