December Message from President Sandy Evans

On behalf of all of your Board, I want to wish you all the very best of the winter season.  I  hope that  you  are all able to embrace and enjoy this amazing time.   With the cold and longer nights we, like most of our natural world, create our own resilience by gathering together, being kind, working together and adapting to the conditions outside our doors.  Winter is very much a time to take time - to reflect, to prepare before going out, to create cozy spaces to return to, to rest (for some even hibernate), to rejuvenate, and to enjoy each others’ stories and wisdoms.  

One of my favourite  sayings in JFW (likely from Mors Kohanski) is that “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices”.  With colder weather and unpredictable conditions, including covid, we need to be especially vigilant that we are providing activities for our wardens that are safe and respectful (of nature and each other).    We  don’t need to  hibernate, but we do need to make good preparation and choices when we head out and when we  gather.  What a great thing to teach our children. 

For the Board, the scurry of Fall work is nearly complete.  We are working through the last of the registrations and are  just waiting for results on a few vulnerable sector checks.  We very much appreciate the diligence of those making sure all of our adult members, as volunteers who connect with wardens, are all vetted.  Thank you for your patience and good communication  with this task.  It has certainly been a different year with many delays beyond our control, and a lot of learning for those of us in new roles.  

We have some new directors including a recent graduate, and a new Secretary!  I would like to thank you all for stepping forward to represent the members in your regions to guide JFW into the year ahead.  And a special thank you and welcome to Debra Wathen, our new secretary, who is stepping into a significant role within the first few years with us.  This is possible with the support of two of our past secretaries generously sharing their experience.  The depth of experience in our membership is really strong.  At all levels from activity and group leaders, club exec, regional councils to the board, we need to foster new leaders, share our stories and experience so that we can continue the incredible knowledge we have built over the past 90 plus years.   

Happy Holidays and Winter celebrations to you all!

Sandy

AJFWA President