[26 Year Gap]

Our board started a new committee last year. It was the Retention Committee, which was charged with finding out why people were leaving the board and to put in place a plan to help officials. I volunteered for that committee and I am sure that helped in elevating to varsity this year. I was the only committee member present at the spring meeting and the president of the board asked me to give an update on our work. A mentoring program is being launched as a result.

Lesson learned? It can pay to volunteer to help the board by becoming part of a committee. You become better known. There is a sales axiom that applies here: It is not who you know, it is who knows you.