The whispers have begun. By that I mean, each time our president doesn’t immediately respond to an email, a handful of leaders begin to send some emails around asking about the president’s health. I seem to be the primary target of these emails, as if I have some special relationship or inside knowledge. I do not. I’ve tried to keep my distance and not get into the president’s personal business, but there are legitimate concerns. However, there are also longtime leaders, members much older and wiser than I, who point out that we can only glean as much information as the president is willing to offer. We have to act as if he is willing and able to lead until he tells us otherwise.
Last weekend, the president confided in me that he was “retired” from his employer effective June 1, 2009, but had continued to work, almost full time, until the end of August 2009. He is now on permanent disability from the firm. He is also confined to a wheelchair; a manual one until November when a motorized one is available to him. Either his wife or son bring him to the meetings and then help him home.
His former firm has graciously allowed him to keep his company email address, but he is unable to access his address book remotely. I offered an email address through our chapter web site’s hosting firm. I’m web master, so I was able to quickly set up the email account and set up an address book with all chapter leaders loaded into it. I’m not sure if he’s going to use it; he hasn’t to date but it’s only been active a week or so.
On the day the president confided his situation in me, I, gently as I could, suggested that he notify chapter leadership of his health and employment status. He has not done so to date.
