[MN-at-Large] Important Presidential Update

[David Andrews]

>
>Federation family,
>
>In 2017, just before I ran for affiliate 
>president, I made you a promise. “When you need 
>my time or my energy, you will have it. When you 
>need my nights and my weekends, I will give 
>them­and gladly.” As often as I have been able 
>over the past four and a half years, I’ve 
>fulfilled that promise. I have enjoyed being the president of our organization.
>
>Recently, however, I have been offered a 
>significant promotion at Optum: having been 
>named to the leadership team, assigned a number 
>of direct reports, and placed in charge of 
>multiple projects. I’m very excited about the 
>work I will be able to do as a result. In fact, 
>one of my new job responsibilities will be in 
>helping to bring greater accessibility to 
>employee experiences within the organization.
>
>The demands of my new role, however, are such 
>that I will have less time to devote to leading 
>our organization, particularly at a moment when 
>we need a reliable hand on the tiller to help us 
>continue our work as the world re-opens. I love 
>this organization and what we do, and it is with 
>that love that I do not want to see our efforts 
>flag because I find myself with less time to 
>give. To that end, and with a great deal of 
>thought and reflection, I must step down as 
>president of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota.
>
>I want you to know a few very important things, though.
>
>First, I am not going anywhere. I have been a 
>member of our organization for 21 years, and 
>that will not change. I intend to continue 
>bringing the message of the Federation to my 
>daily work. I intend to stay active as a member 
>of the BLIND Inc. board. I intend to be present 
>at chapter and board meetings. I am committed to our success.
>
>Second, I have full faith in Steve Jacobson to 
>lead our organization. Steve has been a mentor 
>to me longer than probably even he knows, going 
>back to my first days in the organization when I 
>read, with great joy, his thoughtful posts on 
>the student division list serv. He is passionate 
>about our organization, grounded in our 
>philosophy, and one of the kindest and 
>hardest-working people I know. I am grateful for 
>everything he has done for me, and I am grateful 
>for all he has done for our organization.
>
>With that in mind, however, I ask one last thing 
>of all of you as we transition to Steve’s 
>capable leadership: help him as you have helped me.
>
>The demands of the presidency can be many, and I 
>have been able to surmount them because of your 
>generosity and warmth. You have written to me 
>offering help or asking what you can do to 
>advance our efforts. You have called and texted 
>me personally to ask how I am doing or offer 
>kind words of support. Thank you for all of 
>that. You are what has brought joy to serving as your president.
>
>As Steve steps into this new role, please give 
>him all that same love and support. Please 
>continue to share your enthusiasm and energy. He 
>will need you as I have needed you. It will only 
>be through all of us working together and 
>lifting each other up that we will continue to prosper.
>
>I told you something else in 2017, and it is 
>just as true today as it was then.  “I have 
>drunk from the well my ancestors dug, and I will 
>never forget that. I stand here with you now, 
>shoulder to shoulder, digging the well that 
>blind children and blind seniors and all those 
>who come after us will drink from.”
>
>It has been an honor to serve as your president. Thank you for everything.
>
>Let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind.
>
>Warmly,
>
>Ryan
>
>
>
>Ryan Strunk
>
>Pronouns: he, him, his
>
>(402) 730-4092
>
><mailto:Ryan.strunk at gmail.com>Ryan.strunk at gmail.com
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