A letter from the president: finding moments of joy

Above: The MSCI Board of Directors: John Rutherford, Heather McKaig, Ruth Kay, Chris Kuhlman, Kirstin Carolin, Charlie Rinehart, Doug Bevier and Adam Blaylock.

Dear MSCI Members,

On behalf of the Executive Board, I would like to welcome you to the 2021 MSCI Professional Development Conference. This year’s conference will be unique. The rationale behind its construction was an attempt to bring some sense of normalcy into our lives but we know this will not fully do that. After a year where speech, theatre and debate competitions were held virtually, we all know normalcy is still out there in the distance. But let us attempt to find moments of joy this weekend. Joy in seeing each other in a place that we hold in our hearts. Joy in sharing conversations about what was learned this year and how that can help our activities grow into the future. Joy in celebrating the coaching that helps keep our students competing in these trying times. It has been a joy serving as your president through this adversity and watching our community step up to the challenge.

As members of this professional organization, we share an ethos regarding the importance of speech activities and understand MSCI’s service to our community. MSCI continues to be a professional organization dedicated to supporting speech activities in the state of Michigan through a myriad of factions. I am continuously encouraged by the empathy, sincerity, and authenticity that Michigan Speech has to offer and I applaud you for that.

Thank you all for the trust you have placed in us and the time you have and continue to give to the importance of these activities. I hope you enjoy yourself this weekend.

Sincerely,
Charlie Rinehart
MSCI President

Originally published in the MSCI Year in Review, May 2021.