Vice Advice March 2012

VICE ADVICE

I have started my last two Vice Advices by saying: Holy Hell, were did the time go, so here I sit, once again, in shock and disbelief that the esteemed SCAN editor has asked me for my final Vice Advice.

What a year this has been, the fellowship and professionalism displayed by all of you NSCA Tablers has been exemplary. I have sat at a Shadow Assco meeting in Bloemfontein in November last year, thanking my lucky stars that I am from the NSCA. So in a nutshell, I want to say thanks in this, my last Vice Advice.

NSCA, firstly and fore mostly, I want to say thanks for all of your support in my year as Area Vice. I placed a huge “ask” on you as an Area, last year, when I asked you to Vote me in as your Area Vice Chairman and you responded positively. This in itself placed a huge burden on me not to mess things up in my year due to my relative inexperience! I trust that I have not done this and that as a whole; I have put your vote to good use!

This leads to me to my next thanks, Jeron “Geronimo” Strydom, our fearless NSCA leader! My sincerest gratitude to you, for your mentoring, and above all else, your friendship. We have spent many a night together over the phone or in person, enjoying fellowship and solving the world’s problems. Sir, you have been an inspiration to me from the first time I met you, and I am proud to have served as your Vice. Thank you good sir!

Area, thanks for putting up with my incessant emails and light hearted banter. You have all made me feel exceptionally welcome at your projects, meetings and fundraisers. At times I have felt most undeserving of the respect and decorum shown to Robyn and I. It truly has been a most humbling experience! Gentlemen, if you are ever faced with the decision of running for an Executive portfolio, CARPE DIEM!........do it now, you will never regret it.

To my own table, Sheppie 83, boys thanks for the tremendous support and above all else, thanks for permitting me to run and serve as the Area Vice Chairman. It is always my intention to make you lads proud!

Thanks to our Association, RTSA. From out of Area Conference Raids, to Chartering a new Table, to Raiding another out of Area Table, it has been awesome. You have made me and any other NSCA Tabler feel welcome and revered at your events; it truly has made me proud to be part of this Association!
The time is now fast drawing to a close and the gravitational pull of the Area Chairman’s Gong is now being felt. The sheer responsibility of the task that lies ahead was truly felt by me when chairing my Shadow Exec meeting. I am slowly feeling our current Area Chairman allow more of the ‘reins” to be placed in my hands, and yes J, I have noticed it!

I am looking forward to a year of “Fun, Fellowship and Professionalism” as I believe that this embodies the NSCA. We have raised some huge monies for various charities, we have faced personal demons and overcome them, our membership has grown, our raids top class and our fellowship of the highest order! HooooooHaaaaaaaa NSCA!

I am looking forward to my year serving with you all and all I can say is that with a Area like I have, a Council like I have and an Exec like I have……..BRING IT ON!!!

Leon ‘The Area Vice Jedi” Garbade
Sheppie 83