I hope everyone is enjoying the new year and the wonderful (?) winter weather in many places! I suspect our friends in the South Florida chapter are getting the best of the season!

I was privileged to visit their beautiful city (Miami) last week for a Sky Ranch fundraiser hosted by Bacardi CEO John Esposito. The chapter was well-represented at the dinner, and it was great to see our Executive Director, Jill Hawkins there as well! Best of all, when the time came for attendees to offer pledges of additional support for Sky Ranch, South Florida President David Countin was quick to his feet and to present a donation of $3,000 to help Sky Ranch through a tough year!

Foundation Chairman Mike Donohoe and President Ralph Aguera were there also along with new Sky Ranch Executive Director, Jodi Duttenhefer. Jodi gave a great report on progress being made at Sky Ranch and how important it is to remember Sky Ranch in your personal giving, in your estate plans, and in your prayers. In recent years, estate gifts, often from people of ordinary backgrounds and income, have become a very important key enabling Sky Ranch Foundation to keep helping Sky Ranch help troubled kids.

Sky Ranch is blessed to have so many great friends in WAABI! Ralph Aguera told the Miami dinner audience "I tell people that if you want to get involved helping Sky Ranch, first join your local WAABI chapter! WAABI does a great job for Sky Ranch every year!" That's certainly true. I hope everyone will continue to all you can despite the challenging economy and the problems some chapters are having.

WAABI has a lot to be proud of in accomplishments over the past year. I'll be getting a special issue of Industry World out very soon with highlights of just some of what we accomplished in 2008. If you have any photos or key facts which may not have been sent in yet - please email me right away at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it I wish you all could have been on the conference call last week with the national board and many chapter presidents. The reports of recent activities and plans were really impressive!

WAABI can also be proud that our National Vice President, Paul Houston will be honored by Sky Ranch Foundation on March 1 in Las Vegas. Details were in a special WAABI Thursday issued recently. You can also go to www.skyranchfoundation.org

I think I can speak for my own chapter, Metro DC in saying we were proud to learn that the 2009 WAABI Leadership Conference is headed our way! I'll leave it for Jill to release the full details shortly, but you can count on a great time in our area. We will try to arrange for Congress to take their summer recess so things will be less crowded while you are here! However, some Members of Congress and key staff members may still be in town. You should consider this visit to the DC area a great opportunity to drop in and say hello! Please watch WAABI Wednesday and Industry World for Conference details coming soon!

Well, so much for this week! I encourage all chapters to contact me any time I can be of help. Best wishes to all!

Duncan Cameron National WAABI Member at Large