It’s September.  Summer is mostly behind us.  In a phrase, this is now “the season to get going!”
I ask you. What are you going to do with this time?  Traditionally, we’re headed into the best giving time of the year.  For you, this is make it or break it time for your organization.
As you know, there are alligators and snakes out there ready to bite you.  “It’s a bad economy,” they say.  “2/3 of donors are going to give less this fall,” the prophets predict.  Sometimes you lose confidence and get down on your own ability.  “Can I really do this job?”  “What am I doing here?”
Let me tell you something.  You can do this good work.  When I get discouraged, I remember all that has been done and realize how I helped change the world…even just a little bit.
This might seem cliché, but it’s time to “Seize the Day.”  It’s time to break out of old molds we’ve created and bust loose the chains of “the way it’s always been done.”
There is tough work ahead.  But there is also great joy in helping good people give away their money to make the world a better place.  What a great job you have!
I’m going to leave you with one of my favorite clips from “The Dead Poets Society.”  It’s puts things into perspective for me and pumps me up.  You’ll need it for the journey ahead this fall.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVXKz0j9fvs] 
Thank you for reading.  Both Richard and I are hopeful that in some small way we are helping make a difference in your work.
Jeff