Welcome to Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Florida State Council

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve."

                                                                                              ...Martin Luther King, Jr.

Beta Beta Chapter

Smr_fla@hotmail.com

It is a great honor to accept the position of President of the Florida State Council of Epsilon Sigma Alpha.  ESA in Florida has a great history that spans from 1950 to today.   Our Florida ladies have been sharing themselves and their sparkle for almost 70 years and nationally we are celebrating our 90^th year.  This is a history that should never be forgotten as we endeavor to continue for many more years.

First, of course, are the thank yous.  I would not be standing here if there were not many people supporting me.  Thank you Pinky for an awesome installation ceremony.  Thank you to my family, I’ve got my mom here, I have three of my children here, my son Michael who escorted me in, my daughter Elyse, and my daughter Valerie who is here with her husband Bill and last but not least - my handsome grandson Vincent.  I am really glad you could all be here to share tonight with me.  Thank you to my Beta Beta Sisters for everything you have done and for everything you haven’t done yet.  You ladies are the best!

I want to thank all the members of Florida ESA who have encouraged and helped me grow over the past 14 years.  I can’t believe it has really been that long.  When I joined 14years ago, I would have never imagined that I would be speaking in front of the group much less being installed as state president.  It has been through the opportunities afforded to me by ESA that have allowed me to sparkle.  I have learned a lot of new things over the past 14 years and hope I will continue to learn as the years go on.  

I want to take the opportunity to thank our outgoing president Ida for a great year and for reminding us to make Old treasures new again.  It is important to see where we have been to decide where we are going.

So, where are we going this next year.  I believe this is what we all need to do. Myself included.  We need to stop sweating the small stuff, stop worrying, comparing, wishing, wanting and waiting for something  to happen.  We need to make it happen.  Do we want new members? Then we have to ask.  Do we donate more time or money, then we need to be on the lookout for places we can help. We need to focus on all the opportunities that surround us every day.  While it may be hard to find our individual sparkle in the larger projects for St. Jude or Easterseals, we can see the collective results of ESA’s involvement.  When we support smaller projects in our home town, it is easier to find that sparkle! And potentially attrack new members. 

So, why diamonds, you may ask – well, first of all, they were on sale! I am a girl that can’t pass up a bargain.  And then, of course, they are a girl’s best friend!  And they sparkle just like you!  I see each and every one of you as a sparkly diamond.  ESA ladies are precious and rare and not  found everywhere.  Like diamonds, you  are resilient, strong and beautiful. You can accomplish anything!   You can sparkle!  

We each love in ESA for our own reasons – whatever that reason is – it makes you sparkle!  Will you find that sparkle in volunteering for St. Jude, or for Easter Seals or maybe for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind?  Maybe it is in one of your local projects.  Or maybe it is in just being with your ESA sisters.   And, of course, you may find it in all of those places. 

It is not an easy task to inspire those that have inspired you.  You all have help me go for a diamond in the rough to a sparkly diamond.  Now, I am just a girl trying to change the world one sparkle at a time. 

However you choose to do it, this year I challenge each of you to Sparkle like diamonds!