Fall weather is my favorite season. NFL football games, World Series and the last few days of golf at the Barn.   Cool nights turn into beautiful afternoons.  As I look out my window to the four fairways with trees changing colors and geese landing in the ponds, I am thankful for this beautiful time of year.  It has been a good start of the year with our association membership looking strong and our leadership working hard.  I must say I will be glad when November 4th is over.  How much more campaign talk can we stand?  We all hope for good supporters of education to be elected.  Odds are here in Utah that we will still have a legislature that doesn’t appreciate or understand public education.  The economic outlook is bleak.  Don’t open those 401k’s, just file them away.  Wall Street will bounce back.  The question is whether it will allow me to retire before my 90th birthday.  So as we enjoy this fantastic time of the year and look forward to the winter weather, don’t sweat the little things and keep a positive attitude.  If it seems that you are working harder than ever before, you are right.  More and more is being asked of you.  What we are fighting for is respect, both intrinsic and extrinsic.  The fight is a noble one.  Together we will continue to defend public education and the great teachers who work so hard to prepare our future citizens.  Thanks again, for all you do.

Rick