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	Outgoing SCA Board Members The People Make the Difference by Joan Barrett, Market Share November 2009

	Jim Holland	Chris Yaw	Kelly Szymulewski	Steve Drake	170

Elections for the Sacramento Claims Association Board of Directors for a term beginning with 2010 are open. We have a group of people who have worked very diligently on behalf of the Sacramento Claims Association for the past three years and, in order to acknowledge them and to showcase their commitment, here is a brief profile of each as they step aside and provide an opportunity for a new group of folks to assist the association in achieving the goals of education and fellowship that began over 60 years ago. Jim Holland “I think it is an important thing for anyone in any industry to try to give back something and giving time and attention is important to keep an association alive and helping to keep it moving along. There can be no growth without maintenance and without volunteers to assist it would be a loss to everyone. Being on the board of directors means that there is usually an indirect benefit but a person making the decision to run for a place on the board expecting a direct benefit to themselves is likely in for a disappointment. It is not about a direct benefit to the volunteer, unexpected indirect benefits will show up on their own when one isn’t even looking for it…a new friendship or a renewed friendship could result. “ Jim started in the cleaning and restoration business in 1972. He was reflecting on his own amazement at being in the industry for 37 years in one incarnation or another. “My interest now is to stay involved in a volunteer capacity in a new trade association for the restoration industry. The Cleaning and Restoration Association (CRA) began in March of 2009 with members in California, Nevada and Arizona. In only 9 months, there are 75 members which is an exciting response.” Chris Yaw Has been in the insurance industry since 1996. Her organizational skills were tested time and again in her term as a board member. Chris chaired so many committees and took on a wide variety of responsibilities that she will be hard to replace. “Coming back into the insurance industry and quickly plunging into a board position was a real eye-opener for me” Chris said of her experience. “I had no idea what it took to get everyone together and my time as the reservations chair and chairing the golf committee gave me a crash course in putting on an event that huge. It changed my perspective forever. The luncheons alone were like putting on a smallish wedding every month and dealing with menus, reservations, changing those reservations and dealing with other last minute changes. It was never dull. It did give me an opportunity to meet all kinds of people and interact with them. I made some very special friendships through my experience and that is such a plus.” Chris shared that seeing the same people take on the hard jobs time after time was a revelation as well. “It doesn’t take long to get a sense of the companies that are always up to contributing whatever is needed and they always seem to hire the people that make themselves available to give their time and effort to whatever needs to be done.” “I had such a wonderful time being on the board, it was a great experience. I would encourage anyone to run for a position and if you don’t make it, volunteer to help on a committee so that next time you will be a better position to take another run at it.” Kelly Szymulewski is a hard-working single mother that found time outside of her work responsibilities to volunteer as an SCA board member, work with training mustangs and helps to rescue animals for Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue. Her children are active in various pursuits so Kelly is chief chauffeur and cheerleader for Lexi’s FFA events; Dominick’s football games and Jaden and Tiegen’s 4H activities. She has been an inventive marketer over the years and has brought her marketing and technology skills to the last three years as the secretary for the SCA. Besides taking the minutes at the board meetings, the secretary is responsible for making sure the minutes are posted to the SCA group email site and scheduling and arranging the board meetings. “It was a great learning experience” Kelly said “and a lot of fun. I made some great friends and I whole-heartedly persuade anyone to run for a board position or offer to join a committee if the board is too much of a commitment.” Steve Drake has done yeoman’s work for the SCA all three years of his tenure. He has been available and willing to take on anything that needed his help not only for Sacramento Claims Association, but he also has toiled for Modesto Claims Association and the CCNC committee. Steve says that “beyond marketing opportunities, the principal benefits of my time on the committee have been the relationships that have developed from working along side people I didn’t know previously, or folks I didn’t know well. It was also exciting to be a participant in the growth of the organization and I’m delighted that I was part of the board that took the Sacramento Claims Association from a good solid organization to the vibrant group that it has become.” Steve has lived and worked in several areas in Northern California for the last few years and has refused to allow location to alter his commitment to his responsibilities for the associations he serves. One of the most polite and nicest guys in the business, the board of directors will miss his affable style and knowing that he could be depended upon. Steve says “I can recommend the experience of serving on the SCA board to anyone. It was great for me to be on the golf tournament committee these last three years. I have loved being a part of the team that took on such an enormous task with such unprecedented results.” These four individuals have each contributed so much to the success of the Sacramento Claims Association these past three years, and in their own ways even prior to that. As they step off the board, let us recognize the value they have added to forwarding a strong future for the SCA. About the Author Joan Barrett is owner of the independent marketing firm, Market Share. She is also past president of the Sacramento Claims Association, 2004 President Claims Conference of Northern, Inc., and a free-lance writer. Contact Joan at: joanbarrett@yahoo.com.

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