President’s Message

2006-2007
International President
Enid Croes-Marugg

March 9, 2007

Dear Fellow Quotarians,

I am pleased to open this new message to you by announcing the launching of two new branches: the Lucile Page Branch of QI of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, U.S.A, and the Sint Maarten Branch of QI of Curaçao in the Caribbean. St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two sovereign governments—the Dutch and the French! I congratulate and thank both clubs for their great success in launching a new branch—such a great gift to our Quota organization. And even more exciting news…our St.. Maarten branch is working on becoming a Quota club very soon!

The new year was a busy time for your board of directors. We met together February 1 through 4, 2007, in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., and discussed many issues of importance to Quota International and our We Share Foundation. Here now are some highlights of important decisions our board of directors made together and some photographs of our meetings.

At the end of one busy session, members of our 2006-2007 board of directors pose for a photo with Parliamentarian Carolyn Stubbs and Executive Director Kathleen Treiber.

• We reviewed the successes and highlights from 2006, including our most outstanding convention held in Gold Coast last July and the development and growth activities from all Quota areas. We celebrated the new clubs and branches that were formed in 2006, and we talked about ways to encourage more growth in the year to come. We also met with Quota's investment advisor who reviewed the status of our investments. I am happy to report all are in good order.
  
  
• The board passed the 2007-2008 Quota International and We Share Foundation budgets.
  
  
• We engaged in strategic discussions on Quota's governance and future plans for fund-raising, development and growth, finances, and service. In addition, Quota's two governance task forces reported recommendations for board consideration. The board voted to accept a Voting Task Force proposal to use technology-assisted voting for the bylaw session scheduled for Convention 2008. The Structure Task Force's recommendations have been accepted and are now under the board's consideration for implementation.

Here, the 2006-2007 board of directors engages in discussions at our February 2007 meeting.

• Along with other improvements, the We Share Foundation's Club-to-Club World Service program was revised to become a two-year program coinciding with the Quota fiscal year. The Scholarship and Youth Outreach programs, suspended in 2002, were terminated. The We Share Foundation trustees expressed interest in continuing collaboration with the United Nations and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to advance Quota's unified service programs.
  
  
• The status of the calendar change, Board Policy Manual, and Rules of Procedure were reviewed. All changes by the board of directors will be reflected in the updated Rules of Procedure to be published on the Quota Web site in the near future.

During our time in Washington, D.C., the board of directors toured the beautiful Quota office. Here I am at the headquarters pictured with Executive Director Kathleen Treiber (left) and Deputy Executive Director Nancy Fitzpatrick (right).

• The board created new campaign guidelines for candidates that include rules for giveaways, campaign materials, and opportunities to introduce themselves at area meetings and district conferences. Candidate information will be available on the QI Web site. In addition, the board voted to change the date that International nomination forms are due at the Quota International Office from January 1 to November 30.
  
  
• The board applauded the continuing efforts to amalgamate District 32 and District 38 in Australia. The new combined district will be known as District 43. In addition, the board approved the moving of the two remaining clubs in District 39 as follows: QI of Quirindi to District 24 and QI of Hunter Valley to District 28. The district numbers 32, 38, and 39 will be retired.

During a lighter moment, board members enjoyed getting in the Mardis Gras spirit with masks provided by South Area Director Gwenn Jackson.

As the district conference season approaches, a time of memorable and fruitful meetings, I express my gratitude to the outgoing district officers for having invested time in carrying out their tasks, and I convey warm congratulations to the incoming district officers on taking upon themselves leadership responsibilities. While you confer and enjoy true friendship and great fellowship, let's reflect upon the wisdom from the book, Four Agreements:

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word.
   Your word is the power that you have to create. Through the word you manifest your intent, regardless of what language you speak. The word is a force; it is the power you have to communicate, to think and thereby to create the events in your life.
   
   
2. Don't Take Anything Personally.
   Taking things personally makes you easy prey for those predators who try to send you emotional pollution and set yourself up to suffer for nothing. Even the opinions you have about yourself are not necessarily true; therefore, you don't need to take whatever you hear in your own mind personally.
   
   
3. Don't Make Assumptions.
   We tend to make assumptions that we believe are right, then we defend our assumptions and try to make others wrong. The way to keep you from making assumptions is to ask questions. Make sure the communication is clear; if you don't understand, ask.
   
   
4. Always Do Your Best.
   Under any circumstances, always do your best, no more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is not going to be the same from one moment to the next. If you do less than your best, you subject yourself to frustrations, self-judgment, guilt, and regrets. Regardless of the quality of your efforts, keep doing your best.

Thank you for your support and in always doing your best to Share Our Sunshine.

Warm greetings,

Enid Croes-Marugg
2006-2007 International President

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