Abstract
We live in a time in which we are all too busy with far too many tasks to complete. There are many tools and apps available to help us with managing our time and organizing our “to dos” and yet none truly are the magic bullet that make life less busy or reduce the length of the to do list. I’ve thought about this as I have progressed through the first two years of my four-year journey on the DEC executive board and transition into the presidency. The responsibilities of serving on the board and particularly of the presidential line were not unknown to me. DEC president – what a challenge and yes what a time commitment. So why did I or do any of us get involved in service activities? The answer: Because we believe that service is more than just the act of giving time and other resources. We believe that service is an opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to empower and to be empowered, to share in shaping the future and making a difference for young children and their families.
So, are you ready to jump in and “serve’? There are so many ways in which you can participate in the important work of DEC. Whether you are interested in professional development, policy, research, advocacy or are a student who will soon be a member of our workforce, I think you will find a home and a community of like minds in DEC. Join a Special Interest Group (SIG) or two or three. Connect with your subdivision. Participate in a learning deck. Read an article in this journal, in DEC’s Journal of Early Intervention or from one of DEC’s monographs. Share the DEC Recommended Practices with a colleague. Attend your state conference. Share your experiences and knowledge with others at the national conference. Respond to a call to action. I’d like to encourage each of you to go to the DEC website (http://www.dec-sped.org/) and learn about DEC networks, resources, and professional development opportunities. Then make a commitment to add one more task to your work of making a difference for children and families. As we all know, it takes individuals working and playing well together to make change. This will not help you end up with a clean desk, but as we all know that’s not really such an important goal in the end.
Before closing, I would like to take this opportunity to offer gratitude to my fellow board members including those who are leaving having finished their terms, those continuing, and those who are just beginning their terms. In particular, I’d like to thank Erin Barton (Past President) and Dave Lindeman (Member-at- Large) as they leave the board for all of their time, energy, and hard work on the behalf of DEC. Erin, I feel that I have gained a valued colleague and new friend and Dave yet again had the chance to build on years of amazing collaborations. You both have and will continue to influence my efforts and work on the behalf of young children and their families. As John F. Kennedy said so well, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Thank you.