We've just completed a celebration of 25 years of Dignity in San Diego! What a wonderful celebration it was! What a wonderful 25 years it has been! We're now starting our 26th year and very shortly we will have our first Community Council with several new chapter leaders.

Soon, with the departure of John, Neil and Jeff from our leadership team there will be a tremendous void of volunteer effort, which will need to be filled. These three individuals have worked very hard for many years for this chapter. It is time for them to take a well-deserved break! We appreciate all the work they have done in the areas of membership, chapter representation, advertising, liturgy etc, etc.. And we will most certainly miss their talents and expertise in these and many other areas!

On the First Sunday of Lent I spoke about the challenges facing our chapter and I challenged each of you to make some commitments to the chapter of both your time and money. Here is another opportunity for each of you to re-examine and renew your commitments to the chapter. If you could fill some of this void, now is the time to step forward! We need all the volunteer help we can get! And the more people helping, the less the burden!

This morning, Patrick reminded me of how many people have given so much of their time and enthusiasm over the years and then for one reason or another have left our community hurt and angry! As we begin our 26th year, let us be ever mindful of the diversity of our community! Let us respect one another, as we want to be respected! Let us love one another as we want to be loved! Let us learn to disagree without hurting one another! Let us truly live the life and community, as Christ would have! Let us respect each other and each other's uniqueness just as we ask of the rest of the world to respect our diversity!

The future of our community will be as bright as each of us makes it! How are you going to help brighten that future!

In and for Dignity,

Mike