At the PCPA Annual Meeting on March 15, incoming President Julie R. Weaver, Community Services Group, had her first opportunity to address the membership. After thanking outgoing President Alan J. Hartl, Lenape Valley Foundation, Inc., Ms. Weaver addressed those assembled as follows:
It is truly a pleasure and a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to be president of PCPA. It is a challenge that I am truly ready to embrace.
My entree into PCPA began a many years ago with my attending the Mental Health Committee meetings. The relationships I have developed, the information that I have learned and this Association's impact on me has resulted in my being a more effective supervisor with my staff, certainly a more knowledgeable employee for the company I work for, and definitely a more vocal and compassionate advocate for the consumers of Pennsylvania and beyond. There are no limits to the doors that this Association can open. As our mission so eloquently states, "PCPA promotes a community-based, responsive and viable system of agencies providing quality services for individuals receiving mental health, mental retardation, addictive disease and other related human services."
In reflecting over the Associations activities this past year several words come to mind: DIVERSITY, TRANSITION and LEADERSHIP.
DIVERSITY
In terms of diversity it never ceases to amaze me the scope of activities that this Association undertakes and impacts. Whenever you walk through the offices at the Association those staff that are there are invariably on the phone, talking with us, the members, or with legislators, staff from OMHSAS, OMR, BDAP, MATP, HCFA,OMA, the Office of Children, Youth and Families, the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization, SAMHSA, the Pennsylvania Partnership for Children...and the list goes on. Those staff that aren't in the office are attending meetings and hearings or they are sitting on an endless number of committees and workgroups influencing standards, policies, legislation and ultimately the service systems in which we all work. When the state preliminary budget is released we receive a detailed analysis within hours. We have attempted to step up to the plate in terms of technology, communicating with e-mail, having a dynamic web site and offering interactions via Chat Rooms. Beyond the Association's daily activities we have the Government Relations Institute and a full line of endorsed products. I would certainly be remiss if I did not mention the phenomenal Annual Conference that occurs every fall where we have the opportunity to learn, laugh and play.
Finally when speaking of diversity one must speak about the staff of the Association. It is their diversity in skills and knowledge that keeps this organization running and a success. They are unified when you look at their flexibility, commitment and willingness to do what it takes to get the job done and for that we all THANK YOU!
TRANSITION
It would be an understatement to say that this Association is in a period of transition. However, in reality we are always in some state of transition and isn't that in part what gives us our purpose and mission? Isn't that what gives us the motivation and drive to continually try to positively impact the systems in which we operate?
Ray Webb has led this Association for a decade. The impact he has had and the growth that he afforded PCPA and each one of us is phenomenal. The tribute for Ray in Seven Springs attempted to scratch the surface with regard to how Ray has developed and molded this Association, and I think that each of us has our own special memories and knowledge of how Ray has affected us. But most importantly he has built a strong foundation and has fostered many strong and important relationships which will continue to move PCPA forward into the 21" century.
In June George Kimes will step up to take the helm of PCPA. I am thrilled at this prospect as I know that George has the energy, knowledge, commitment and excitement to face the challenges and capture the opportunities that will continue to strengthen this Association and therefore all of us.
LEADERSHIP
Finally I am compelled to talk to all of you about leadership. I believe PCPA is an extraordinary organization and unique in that many stakeholders not only have a deep respect and high regard for the Association but they regularly look to PCPA for input, information, feedback, support and direction. We all have incredible demands from our jobs, as we all strive to be responsive to the ever-changing health care environment and continue to provide quality services in our communities. This cannot be disputed. You are all leaders; this too can not be disputed. This Association is what we make of it. As I mentioned previously we have a tremendous complement of staff but they can't and shouldn't be expected to do it alone. The staff pursue issues that we are passionate about, they keep us informed of the pulse of activities occurring in innumerable arenas. They need our facts, our experience, and our feedback in order to carry forth what needs to be done. We have to identify what battles have to be fought, where the compromises have to be made. It is both staff and members that count on the depth of the various relationships we all have that we need to continue to strengthen. It is the staff and the members that have made this Association what it is.
In this next year we will face many challenges, from the continued implementation of HealthChoices, preserving the carve out, facing staffing and salary struggles, our relationship with counties and the changing role of PCPA to name a few. I ask you to do some reflection...
If PCPA were not here tomorrow would you still have a voice in state policies, standards and bulletins?
Sure, most documents have a comment period and go out to the stakeholders - but think about how many times this past year you have personally sat down, analyzed a document and sent in a formal response.
If PCPA were not here tomorrow would you be able to impact the legislative process?
Possibly, however keeping abreast of the pulse of the legislature and what bills are currently active would be very difficult in the scheme of all of your other responsibilities.
If PCPA were not here tomorrow would there still be conferences to attend?
Absolutely, however would those conferences have the attendance of so many stakeholders and provide the depth of information and opportunity for networking as the PCPA Annual conference, not to mention the opportunity for laughter and just having a great time with so many of your peers and colleagues?
If PCPA were not here tomorrow would our jobs still be there?
Of course. We would still go to our jobs every day. However, we would not have anyone to call to inquire about the status of various bills, legislation, to seek information, a contact person or to obtain entree into that key office.
As we embark into this new Millennium I ask each of you, and those in your organizations, to dig a little deeper, not for money but to commit your time, talents and energy to the continued success and excellence of PCPA.
As Vince Lombardi once said, " Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." It is also what has and will continue to make PCPA, our Association work.
I, personally, am up for this challenge and I hope that you are too. THANK YOU!