Page 15 - AASBO EDGE BTS 2023

The second, and primary reason, was what I was from many, including leadership in other
hoping it would help to illustrate and represent. affiliates, former and current ASBO International
To get to the crystal on the inside, one must begin representatives, and from keynote speakers about
by chipping away at the surface, and continue to the awesomeness of Arizona ASBO. Directly
make progress until you reach the beauty and value from them, Arizona is the model and standard
within. that others should be looking to replicate. This
status did not happen by accident, but because
“When we pool our resources, of Arizona’s willingness to continue to seek
skills, and passions, we amplify innovative solutions and chip away at the outside

our impact and create a force for in search of the value within. This is something
that all of us can be proud of.
positive change.”

As a fellow member of AASBO, I very much look
To me, that is what AASBO represents. Each year, forward to the improvements that Russell and the
since AASBO was officially founded in 1954, we association will make, as we all continue to chip
have continued to chip away and chip away, making away and further highlight the value that rests
anywhere from large to subtle improvements along beneath the layers of the rock.
the way, while standing on the shoulders and
honoring those who chipped at the rock before us.
Many of us are eager to give back to the association Dale Ponder serves as Immediate Past President on the
AASBO Board of Directors and as the Chief of Finance &
and find a way to be useful. So, we’re willing to Operations for Crane Elementary School District in Yuma.
chip away at it.

I think that raises the question – will we ever
get to see the full beauty of the crystal that rests
inside? As an association, we continue to focus on
identifying opportunities to improve or develop
processes, correct misunderstandings, deliver
enriching professional development, and provide
strong legislative awareness. Even today, we can
see a lot of the crystal, as we and those before us
have done great work to chip at the rock, clearly
displaying the beauty and value of AASBO. If our
association maintains the approach of operating in
the mindset of continuous improvement, I do not
believe that even our successors will be able to see
its full and entire beauty. With each generation, so
long as we continue to progress, the crystal on the
inside will grow larger and larger, revealing more
of the magnificence of the crystals within, but do
not believe that we’ll ever be “finished.”

Even so, it’s reasonably close though. During
my tenure as an officer of the board, I’ve heard

15