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All
pilots prepare for sudden emergencies, those moments
when the engine sputters or goes silent, when a vacuum
pump fails and instruments run awry, when the ominous
darkness of weather closes in and our physical senses
lead astray. We practice these emergencies so an encounter
with reality is no shock. We learn to say "Mayday"
three times if a landing is imminent, to tune the
transponder to 7700 and our communications radio to
121.5. We learn to focus on just flying the airplane,
and not so much on the symptom of the problem.
But the further distant
our times of practice and the more hours we spend
in perfect flying, engines purring, instruments consistently
functioning, and the weather clear, the less prepared
we become. For an emergency in an airplane is like
a thief in the night, lurking unseen to appear at
the least likely of times: while we sleep, taking
flight for granted. Then, an emergency is truly a
sudden one.
I find life no different.
We simply take the continuation of the present circumstances
for granted. Our Association is running quite smoothly:
membership is up, we've moved into beautiful new quarters,
two task forces have completed their extensive work
and reports to our Supreme Court are ready for adoption,
we are prepared for the Legislative Session, and our
CLE schedules are brimming with excellence. Things
were simply wonderful recently when our Executive
Director, Don Hollingsworth, told me of his decision
to retire at the end of June 2007, an unwelcome sudden
emergency, indeed.
Little planning had
been done for the challenge of our chief officer's
departure; there are no succession plans for this
most important staff position. And Don's ability to
encourage and lead our 4,900 voluntary members has
made us comfortable with the present circumstances.
He has a genuine talent for details and dealing with
eager leaders, each with substantial energy and self-confidence.
His tenure has been marked with tremendous growth
and change for the Association, all of which he has
helped us achieve and endure with grace and cooperation.
We will miss him.
We have already responded
to the challenge. A nine member Search Committee led
by Jim Julian has been selected. All of the nine readily
agreed to serve. The Committee has already met and
adopted a time table for advertising the vacancy and
interviewing selected candidates. The opportunity
will be announced nationally so the very best for
this position can be considered, although the group
is cognizant of the value of Arkansas experience in
this position. We can have great confidence in this
group's abilities and dedication and, therefore, in
the resulting recommendation to be made to the Board
of Governors in April. And so, there is no "Mayday"
here; we have met this emergency and are prepared
to continue the flight.
My family has also faced
a sudden emergency lately. We were calmly asleep on
October 19 when our son, Daniel, unexpectedly passed
away in his sleep. With the support of our faith,
our family and friends, we have faced this awakening
reality, and have found reliving memories of a delightful
young man is a source of comfort, and provides meaning
to his difficult life.
Daniel was born under
harsh circumstances, suffering a skull fracture at
birth, an early symptom of a rare condition that affected
him for the remainder of his twenty-nine years. By
his own count, he survived "30 plus" surgeries,
and was most often confined to very short walks or
his Quickie wheel chair. He never let his physical
condition defeat him, rather using his wit to endear
him to family and friends forever. He will be remembered
for his persistence, endurance, courage and his ability
to love life regardless of his circumstances. His
death was certainly a sudden emergency to his family
and friends, but our flight, too, will be recovered
and restored, although our preparation and practice
had been dulled by complacency and years of engines
purring, instruments working and clear weather prevailing.
We encourage each of you to guard against such complacency.
Hug your loved ones
often, and long.•
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