I am asking for your vote for President of Skål USA. Since 1983 when I joined Skål Toledo I have been working for Skål members. When I joined Skål Northern New Jersey in 1998 I started to see the bigger picture and joined the local board in 2001. I have twice been elected president of Skål Northern New Jersey and have served as the Skål USA rep. After attending NAASC in Calgary in 2005 I realized that Skål was more than just dining with friends once a month and sharing stories. I met friends from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Israel and more. The passion and dedication I saw opened my eyes to the Skål's global networking possibilities and how it could help me professionally and personally.
It was at a casual Summer Skål gathering in 2003 that I suggested to my club that we travel together to meet other clubs. Our first trip in February 2004 was to Amsterdam, in 2005 to Ireland, in 2006 to Prague and so forth. To date Skål New Jersey has visited 31 Skål clubs in 15 years. This year we had to cancel our proposed trips to San Juan and Bergen. But we've Zoomed with our Twin clubs of Girona, Roma and Kvarner. On the 25 plus Zooms I've attended with U.S. Skål clubs I've encouraged them to reach out to other clubs. To broaden your Skål horizons! To meet your Skål family both here and abroad! To see the bigger Skål picture!
If I'm elected Skål USA President I promise to work with you to maintain and increase your membership. As the current VP Membership I've seen our membership numbers drop at the beginning of the year only to rebound in the past 6 months during the worst health crisis of our lives. I created a membership team of eight Skål members from around the country to offer better communications to our clubs. Now, more than ever, Skål can offer support and countless networking possibilities.
As VP Administration in 2019 I helped plan not only our NASC in Hawaii but the World Congress Cruise in Miami down to every detail. The VP Admin also coordinates the monthly EC meetings and is part of a committee to choose the Club of the Year and the site of our Winter EC meeting.
As Skål USA Social Media director I started our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn pages and preached the Skål gospel to members and non-members alike. I started the Skål Toast challenge which attracted world wide participation. My social media mantra is Engage, Entertain and Educate.
This year Skål International opened a new enhanced website. I have been working 7 days a week helping club officers and members login and perform necessary tasks for their club. Since communications is crucial to a successful organization I want to ensure that our data is updated and correct.
When this terrible pandemic is over and we can all meet again safely in person I will still encourage you to hold virtual meetings within your own club and with other clubs. Reach out to those members who are only marginally participating and try to get them more involved. If you are having a special event I will try to attend in person. If not I will meet with you virtually. I will be fiscally responsible since Skål's money is your money!
Two years ago I changed our club's banner and added the words Bringing Friends Together. Our friends are all over the world and, now more than ever, we can meet them.
Most of us have a passion for Skål. To attain our goals we must have passion but we must also put in the effort. Passion without effort will get you nowhere. I will help us get where we want to go so please give me your vote for Skål USA President.
Respectfully in Skål,
Jim Dwyer
