March 21, 2011
A Letter from The Chairman
Welcome to the newest season of ASB. Each March we elect a new Chairman to lead the society through its initiatives and good works. The term starts at this time and culminates with the delivery of the following year's annual conference, better known as "BakingTech", the anchor event of "The Best Week in Baking". I am honored to be selected as your Chairman for the 2011-2012 season.
When I tripped and fell into this industry 32 years ago, I committed to do my very best at whatever I became involved in, and I intend to continue that commitment for the next twelve months in this role, and beyond.
If you were at the "changing of the guard" portion of the conference on Wednesday morning of BakingTech 2011, you heard me thank a number of people who have been a large part of getting me to this point. I shared some words about my wife Wendy who provides the encouragement and support that has allowed me to grow in life and industry. I spoke about my father who provided the work ethic that guides my career today. You heard me talk about people from the industry that pushed me along like Tony Bailey, Rudy Wegner, Jim Pimpinella and Frank Kuchuris.
Former Chairman Gary Brodsky was pointed out as a key to my ability to enter the society, and many others like Kurt Miller, Mark Hotze, Terry Bartsch and Paul Lattan who allowed me to participate in their programs the last number of years where I was able to hone some of my creative skills were also recognized. And finally, my good friend and mentor, Robert Benton, who has been extremely helpful by providing advice on industry, life and society. Like our keynote speaker, Ed Viesturs suggested on Monday morning, if you are climbing a mountain, you can't go alone. A team of dedicated individuals is required to reach the summit. These folks have been my team.
We have just experienced another fantastic annual conference here in 2011 brought to you by 2010-2011 Chairman Rowdy Brixey, Program Chairman Paul Lattan and their entire program team. While the program went off without a hitch, it was not without its challenges through the year. The business of the society was in a leadership transition, but all of the industry volunteers involved with ASB worked diligently with interim leader Kerwin Brown of BEMA to focus on a successful hand off to our new administration team now lead by Kent Van Amburg, our Executive Director. Kent and his staff were able to come in and hit the ground running which allowed the program team to get back to work solely focused on bringing us once again to the "Best Week in Baking". To all, job well done.
So now onto the next year. As I come to this role as Chairman, I can tell you that while a person coming through the "chairs" has typically been involved in the activities of the society, my entire ride has been spent dealing with the "business" of the society as we have come through many forms of leadership through the past 3-1/2 years. Now that we are back to stable administrative leadership, we, the volunteers of the society can get back to doing the "work" of the society and leave the business to our Executive Director.
We are now back to a place where we can spend our energies on bringing relevant and timely information and services to the membership. We can set our sights on some initiatives that have had to rest for a few years. Growing membership is always a goal of a society, but I look to have us not only grow in numbers, but grow in impact, grow in value and grow in spirit as individuals and as a society. We are back to a place where we can go out and truly practice our mission and vision as a society, and we have a responsibility to live out, the Creed of the Bakery Engineer.
An incoming Chairman of this society usually declares a theme for their year in office, and this year is no different. The theme that will guide us this next year is one that speaks exactly to what we as members of this society are called to do in order to impact all of the spaces we live in. The theme is simply "RISE UP". We all can make a difference everyday, everywhere and in every way, with everyone we meet along the way.
So I encourage you to go out into your communities, your industry, and your workplaces and Rise Up. Rise up those around you and as important, raise yourself in body, mind and spirit.
I look forward to leading the society this next year and if anyone has comments and suggestions, or maybe you just want to get more involved, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Now I leave you with these parting words:
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10, NIV)
Respectfully,
Jeff Dearduff
Chairman
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