The month started with a lot of association activity. Over seven days, I made two trips up and down the state to support CMSA Chapter fundraising activity. These important events allow us to contribute $61,000 annually to CMSA Charities and Scholarship programs. It’s easy to get caught up in all the negative news about our state, but take a road trip away from the major metropolitan areas. It isn't easy to find another state with the beauty and diversity of nature and climate that California offers. Back to those metropolitan areas, California is the most populous state with the largest economy ($3.63 trillion gross state product (GSP) in 2022), where you want to be if you’re in the moving business. Anyways, back to the drive, in twenty-four hours, we went from snow in the Grapevine through a rainy central valley to high winds and choppy seas in the San Francisco Bay. Saturday morning, we woke to smooth seas, a sunny CMSA North Bay Bocce tournament, and a first-class BBQ in San Raphael.

Chairman Jesse Chabot will culminate his term of board leadership at the upcoming convention, and I know that you join me in thanking him for his service to the Association.
Every chair brings a unique style, skills, and knowledge to the job, and the Association is better for it. Jesse was a great advocate for the smaller mover and younger people within the Association. He reminded us that it was okay to have a little fun along the way. Thank you to his wife, Sovann, who shared Jesse with the Association and even joined us on a road trip.

Incoming Chairman Vince Cardinale is the only CMSA Chair to serve two non-consecutive terms as the CMSA Chairman of the Board. For those of you who are relatively new to the Association, upcoming Communicator issues and Chapter visits will introduce you to Vince. For those of us who have been around a while, we’ve worked with Vince on committees and the board since the 1980s. I look forward to taking another turn at the wheel with our incoming Chairman.

Last month, we saw a return to an in-person CMSA legislative day in Sacramento. The opportunity for members to visit with legislative and departmental staff is extremely valuable to our legislative efforts, and all in attendance gave the event high marks. Special thanks to the staff at Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer and Lange, particularly our lead lobbyist, partner Matt Robinson, and his team, including Lizzie, Olivia, and Carole. We’ll be discussing more legislative activity in the coming months.

April/May 2024 - CMSA Communicator