The Chairman's Corner

By John Lance
January 2018

December is usually a fairly busy month, and this year was no different. Every year from just before Thanksgiving all the way through the end of the year, we tend to be very busy with agent pickups, most of this due to our professional van operators shutting down for the holidays. As a hauling agent in the moving business, I see this year after year. The tonnage lists load up with available shipments to haul, similar to our peak summer season, and then come January 1st, these tonnage lists in some cases dwindle down to almost nothing when the van operators are ready to go again and dispatchers are putting loads together. The holidays also add to our busy schedules with family get togethers, shopping for gifts, decorating your home and making sure you have not forgotten anybody. Bernie and I are blessed with five grandchildren, and they are most important in our world. I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Steve and I headed north once again in the beginning of December for a rescheduled meeting with the North Bay Chapter. Their original meeting that was scheduled for October was cancelled due to the wild fires that ripped through their community and destroyed home after home. Vidal Serna of Schultz Bros.Van & Storage is the President of the North Bay Chapter, and he put together an outstanding meeting. Throughout the evening, we had great conversation. Most of the people in the room that evening had been affected in one way or another from the fire, yet everybody seemed to have a connection with each other. It was great to see the way people come together and help each other through these times. Some of the stories I heard that evening were mind boggling. Senior Chairman Bob Fraser took me and Steve for a short tour of some of the neighborhoods that this fire went through. Some 5600 plus homes and businesses completely gone. Neighborhoods completely wiped out with nothing but burnt cars in the driveway and foundations left. I watched this devastation on the news as it unfolded back in October, but seeing it in person was beyond anything I have ever seen before. This community is strong. They have already started the cleanup process, and they will rebuild. Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Bob & Cris, for inviting me and Steve into your home and for all your hospitality.

With the holidays, behind us we can catch our breath and focus on our businesses. Please take the time to look at the events calendar on the CMSA website. There are several fundraisers going on in the months ahead leading up to our 100th year convention. I know attending all of them is hard geographically for everybody, but try and make it to at least a couple in your area. All our chapter presidents and volunteers spend a lot of time and effort putting these events together. Your support is greatly appreciated. Several weeks ago, Bernie and the CMSA staff got my MDA Muscle Walk up and running. There have been emails sent out and you can view all the details on the CMSA website calendar of events. Please take a look at this. There are several ways to get involved whether you can make it to the actual walk or not. We have had a great response so far, and I thank all of you for that. Hope to see you there January 21st in Newbury Park, Calif.

It’s hard to believe I am already over 7 months into my term as Chairman of the CMSA. These articles have been interesting to write, and I am constantly trying to come up with things that would be worthy of reading. I know in my next life I will not be a writer! I am trying to keep my articles shorter because Steve has let me know I am getting into his space, and he will just have to put a smiley face instead of an article!

“The greatness of man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” – Bob Marley

Now go take on the day and I will see you next month.

January 2018 - CMSA Communicator