Greetings:

I apologize for not seeing you at the Spring Conference as I had promised. Unfortunately, other matter became more pressing. I had sought a doctor's help for relief from back pain. During the visit on May 1, 2006, I agreed that I might have some of the afflictions he was diagnosing, but that I wanted to rule out the possibility that the pain was heart related. On May 2nd and May 3rd I took a stress test, a two day affair. I experienced no real problems, even while walking on the tread mill, however, the beautiful pictures, (x-rays) they took of my heart showed blockage. On Wednesday night, my primary doctor called stating he was setting up a heart catheterization for me on Thursday. I thought he said he'd call me back on Thursday morning. Since he indicated no real sense of danger, I went to choir practice. He called during choir, leaving a message on the answering machine to call his cell phone. Oops, he left no number. On May 4th at 10:00 a.m. I underwent a heart cath. By early afternoon I was officially a patient at Wisconsin Heart Hospital.

Due to the operating room booked for that entire day, my surgery was scheduled to begin about the time many of you were assembling for the Spring Conference. Although I regret not attending the Conference, I had utter confidence in the Board and other Leaders that the conference would progress in an orderly and productive fashion. I thank them for reaffirming my confidence in them.

I have shared a lot of personal things, what does all this have to do with WRWA and writing. I'll let you consider two things:

Life is uncertain enough that we should never put off until tomorrow what we really want to do today!

Often we procrastinate; I'll get around to writing “that” someday, but not today. NO!!

Write it today. We don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Have some fun writing this summer. Encourage each other and don't put off until next fall or next winter what you can accomplish this summer. I'm especially looking forward to seeing you at Janesville in September.

Again “Thank You” to the Board, Leaders, and other who contributed to the success of the Spring Conference.