The Chairman's Corner

By Robert Fraser
November 2016

With November upon us, this is a good time to reflect and be thankful for all of the good things that life brings us. This past year has brought many "life-moments" to me that I am thankful for. Those moments that we each have from time to time in our lives that are so awe-inspiring, so beautiful and so unforgettable that the images are forever etched in our memories - I call these life-moments. I like to remind myself to stop and really appreciate when I'm in a life-moment. Over the years when I'm at a special place or moment with a friend or family member, I'll sometimes suggest that we stop and make sure to never forget that point in time. Last May right before the CMSA Convention at Squaw Creek, past CMSA Chair Jill Longo said to me: "Make sure to take the time to really appreciate and enjoy the experience as the incoming Chair, because it will fly by. And before you know it, it's over."

There were plenty of life-moments to be had during the second leg of my tour of California. CMSA President Steve Weitekamp and I visited a few moving companies in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area, including Hazelwood Allied Moving & Storage and NMS Moving Systems. Casey McCann did a great job leading the Ventura/Santa Barbara Chapter meeting at Sly's restaurant.

The next morning, Patrick Longo gave us the grand tour of Andy's Transfer & Storage operation in Glendale. We proceeded to take a short golf respite at the Oakmont Country Club, where, as fate would have it, I was paired with past Chairman Dennis "Dodger" Doody the day after my San Francisco Giants were eliminated from the MLB playoffs and his Los Angeles Dodgers advanced. (We got along splendidly, by the way.) After lunch at the clubhouse, Steve and I visited fellow Stevens Worldwide Van Lines agent Pink Transfer in Monrovia. Eric Ortiz lead the Greater Los Angeles Chapter to a very entertaining meeting. Counting yours truly, there were five CMSA Chairs in attendance.

We proceeded the following day up and over the grapevine to visit Ben Geissel and his staff at Galbraith Van & Storage Co. in Bakersfield, drove up to Visalia to drop in on Brad Metzner at Jack & Jeff Transfer Co. and ended the day at Lambert Transfer & Storage in Lemoore with Jeanette Homan. That night at the Central Valley Chapter meeting at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, we were greeted by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. (It was really a couple Lambert Transfer gals in masks, but they sure had me fooled!) Mia Garza did a fantastic job leading this unforgettable meeting.

I'd like to take this time to thank all of the chapters that I have visited so far. The energy and enthusiasm has been off the charts! It's been refreshing to see and meet all of the new members that have been in attendance. That's a direct testament to all of the hard work that our chapter presidents are doing on behalf of our Association. We should all be thankful. Great job, guys and gals!

On that note, I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

"Be Thankful For What You Got"
- William DeVaughn, 1974

November 2016 - CMSA Communicator