“Pea-corn. Pop-nuts. Chewing gars. Ci-gum. Magazettes!”
While my Dad (and my Grandfather before him) often belted out this line as if a food vendor at a ballpark, this column isn’t about the peanuts and popcorn vendors. Granted, on a recent visit to my neighborhood ballpark (um, Fenway Park in Boston), I did wonder how the vendors run up and down the stadium stairs so effectively with a heavy load balanced on their heads, but I’ll leave that biomechanics research study for someone else. This column is about the baseball team itself – or really, our ASB leadership team.
Just like any great team, there are multiple members playing different roles. Some you see regularly; others are working away in the background supporting the team. This Newsletter contains columns from the leadership team; and we all have a bunch of people working with us behind the scenes. We each have our separate roles and responsibilities, but we all must work together to achieve the common goal.
Why am I thinking about this right now? Well, it is that time of year when our team changes over a bit. Maybe I should call it the end of a season.
Presidents are somewhat like baseball pitchers – they have a shorter term (1 year) than the other team members (most of which are 3-year terms). They warm up for a year in the President-Elect position, take the mound and drive the show as President, and then retire (as if) to the dugout to finish off as Past President. They also have a profound impact on the success (or not) of the team! I’m incredibly grateful for the presidents that I’ve worked with and for the effort they spend leading our incredible Society.
I also want to recognize two of the team members I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with and who are at the end of their terms: Ana Ebrahimi and Srikant Vallabhajosula. We came in together as new members of the executive board and formed the ASB Communications Team; we worked to execute plays called before we arrived and to call our own along the way. This included developing the ASB Annual Report, updating the Newsletter with a new online format, starting an Annual Meeting Memories page, and working hard to adapt to the ever changing social media landscape. While Ana and Srikant bid adieu (I get to stay on a little longer), it’s time to welcome new members to the team. Lisa MacFadden will be joining as our new Secretary. And Evan Dooley will be returning to us (he was Student Representative when I began) as the new Communications Chair.
Just like in baseball, not everyone who tries out makes the team. We appreciate all the individuals who tried out; we cherish your willingness to serve our Society by running for office or putting your name forward to be considered for selected positions. We hope that you’ll be willing to try again in future years. As Ajit Chaudhari mentions, he didn’t make the team on his first run either… but soon, he’ll be taking the mound as President. So try and try again.
Like any good team, as the players change, we’ll adapt and meld again. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Multiple individuals bringing their own expertise and experiences, joining together as a tight-knit team with the common goal of winning the pennant!! Oh wait, this isn’t baseball; there isn’t a division championship to strive for. Instead, we aim to create a community where service roles are valued, respected, and even coveted; where previous team members want to come back to take on new roles; and where we all work together to serve and support our growing ASB family.