Pat Chan – SWS Governer

Governor’s Report
Southwesterly Summer 2024

This is an election year for the Southwest Section (SWS) and a time for transitions. We welcome our new officers who begin their terms on July 1, 2024:

• Governor: Anelie Brooks
• Vice Governor: Mary Wich
• Secretary: Sofia Nosratabadi
• Treasurer: Leslie Ingham
• Directors: Claudia Maciel and Laura DelFavero
• Nominating Committee: Susan Conner-Steeb, Chair; Debra Balsley, Samarra Dalrymple, Donna Harman and Annelie Hubinette

I will stay on the SWS Board of Directors for one term as Immediate Past Governor.

The SWS Board of Directors has spent the last two years adapting to and rebuilding from the COVID pandemic.

The 2024 Winter Workshop, hosted by Sacramento Valley Chapter, provided two valuable seminars. “How to Keep Chapters Viable” by Susan Conner-Steeb, and “How to Host Section Meetings” by Luz Schaible and Emily Roessler.

The 2024 Spring SWS Meeting, in Carson City, NV, was cohosted by Reno Area Chapter and San Fernando Valley Chapter. Chapter reports, from most of the 41 SWS chapters, were presented. Changes to the SWS Standing Rules were ratified.

The Airmarking Award and the Air and Space Education Award signifies a chapter’s efforts within the aviation community. The winners were announced at the 2024 Spring SWS Meeting.

Sue Kerr, SWS Air and Space Education Committee Chair, presented awards to Coachella Valley Chapter as a small chapter and Sutter Buttes Chapter as a large chapter.

Lynn Meadows, SWS Airmarking Committee Chair, presented awards to the small chapter: Monterey Bay Chapter and the large chapters: Air Hearts Utah 99s, second place to San Gabriel Valley Chapter.

The Southwest Section continues to grow. On May 19, 2024, there were 1,959 SWS members.

It’s been strange to gain so many new members and at the same time not have as many who provide the governance needed to keep chapters within the 99s Inc. About a year ago a chapter dissolved for lack of leadership and now the SWS Board of Directors is assisting a chapter in staying viable.

Chapters need to have a fundamental understanding of what it means to be a non-profit corporation and have the tools to maintain that understanding.

The good news is that there is strong interest in revitalizing the dissolved chapter and the chapter experiencing difficulties is working hard to resolve problems.

An organization is more than the sum of its individual awards. It takes continuous effort by its membership, working as teams, to nurture an organization.

Best regards,
Pat

Pat Chan
Governor
Southwest Section 99s