This seems like a good place to say, thank you Wayne. I missed last year's convention, but it was quite apparent that it was a smashing success and a great time was had by all. I have every reason to believe 2000 will be every bit as good or better. If it isn't, it won't be because you didn't try and didn't care. As a former neighborhood activist, I gave a great deal of a 7 year period trying to make St. Johns a better place to live. Some people appreciated it. Some people devoted nearly as much effort in trying to tear me down. I believed in what I was doing, and I believe I was successful. One thing I have learned is, people who care, people who are passionate about what they believe in, are people with strong opinions. Any time you put your self in a public volunteer position, you will come up against people who care about the same things you care about, but have a different opinion. Sometimes it's constructive, sometimes it's not. But it's a far different thing when people work against you because they have a personal ulterior motive. I found myself up against a group like that in St. Johns. It was very frustrating. I don't believe anyone on this board falls in that category. Open hearts and open minds will go a long ways for all of us. Remember, remember, remember....

We're in it for the chips! (And the friendships!)