My name is Jacquelyn Knuckle and I am a candidate for the Board position of Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect. The question that is inevitably asked of candidates is “why are you running”? There are a couple of reasons that I would like to share with you. First, I love a challenge, and the opportunity to try something new. This process has been a learning experience, which I believe has value in and of itself. However, the main reason that I am running is because as a past-president of the Philadelphia Chapter, I know well the combination of joy and fear one has after being elected to office. I know the excitement of anticipating the year ahead and also thinking oh my God, I have won, now what? I am here for the opportunity to help you with what comes next. If elected, I will work with the Chair to make sure that your voice is heard on the Board. The recent Bylaws experience has shown us that the Association hears our voices and listens to what we have to say.

The daily functioning our your units is as equally as important to me as the issue of the future direction of our organization with respect to branding, membership retention and many of the topics that are being addressed at this meeting. I would like to work with you so that your experience as a unit officer is positive. I can do that by making sure that information flows smoothly from your units to the Board and from Board to you. I believe that this can be achieved by using the communication mechanisms the Association has in place for you to share your concerns or suggestions as a chapter leader. I will close with a quote from Marian Anderson, “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it”. Thank You.