President’s Corner   

by Terry Witcher   

Wow! It is that time again, where all of us at Pinion should take a moment and reflect back on another successful and busy year.   Thanks to all our Sponsors, Pinion Officers, Pinion Board and Membership; Pinion raised a little more than $95,000 .  This year Pinion presented $18,000 to the Victory Living Program and $80,000 to Special Olympics Broward County.

The Special Olympics Broward County Summer Games were held March 6^th at the Cypress Bay High School.  Valerie Kowanetz did a wonderful job putting the luncheon together. I would like to give a special thank you to Alan Lieberman from Freshpoint South Florida for providing once again this year all the fresh fruit for the luncheon.  There was a huge turn out this year.   I would like to say thank you to all the Pinion Board, Members and volunteers that came out to support our special athletes.

“Pinion Go Bragh” our famous Irish Social was held at Briny Riverfront March 10^th again this year.  Our Co-Chairs Christine Hurlock, Birgit Fillingame, Marian McCray-DeLoach, and Wendy Walters did a fantastic job putting the social together.  Everyone always has a good time when they can wear green, drink green, spend green and win green!  Thanks to all of you that came out to spread the Pinion Spirit with a little touch of Irish.

“Pinion’s Year End Luncheon” was held at the Morton’s Steak House on June 3^rd in Fort Lauderdale.  Our Co-Chairs Sylvia Andis, Linda Eckert, Pattie Kearson, Sonja Mayo and Pam Nowatka did an excellent job putting our luncheon together.  I hope that everyone had an opportunity to see the “Year in Review” video.  I had been putting this DVD together all year long and was so excited to finally see the finished product.  It was very heartwarming to see at a glance everything that the Pinion organization did over this past year.  

This year Special Olympics Broward County presented Pinion, Inc. with their ‘Hall of Fame Induction” award.  On behalf of all of us at Pinion, we feel very privileged and honored to have received this award.  To think that our organization got started so that a small group of ladies could get together monthly to socialize and stay in touch with each other.  Today our membership has grown substantially and we’re still socializing and having a good time for a great cause. 

It has been an honor for me to have been President of Pinion this past year.  I have learned a lot and have grown in many ways, especially my fear of public speaking. I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for supporting me as President and Pinion this past year.  But, it is now time for me to turn it over to our new President Mirtha Toledo Hackley.  I am sure she will do a fabulous job.

Year 2011 will be Pinion’s 20^th Anniversary.  I hope that everyone will continue to “Let the Spirit of Pinion cast a spell on you and those around us” for years to come so that we may keep “inspiring greatness” in our special athletes.

© Copyright 2009 Pinion, Inc.