When NAPC presented the Distinguished Service Award to David Swain at the Annual Meeting on May 4th, we achieved our goal of taking him by surprise ... so much so that our usually eloquent colleague was "speechless." 

Afterwards, he sent NAPC this message ... 
 

(May 7, 2002) 

As you know, I found myself unusually speechless at the business meeting when I was so unexpectedly (for me at least) honored with a very special award.  So, now, having fully recovered from speechlessness, I would like to offer my heart-felt thanks to each and every one of you and to the Association as a whole.

I appreciate the recognition you afforded me for the efforts I have put into NAPC.  I strongly believe in the importance of our Association and of what it does and can accomplish-at both the council level and the national level, so this has been for me an involvement of commitment and conviction. However, it's also been a collaborative involvement.  We all know that communities prosper based on collective effort.  NAPC is no different, and I firmly believe that you all share an important stake in the award you gave me because what's important is what we have accomplished together.

Besides that, you all are very special people to me-a wonderful group of intelligent, caring, and committed people.

In similar vein, my representation of JCCI in NAPC has not been done solo. This morning, I brought your award to our weekly staff meeting and shared it with all of the JCCI staff, who also are very special people, for which you have a taste, having met Jennifer Parsons.  It's really their award, as well, for doing excellent work consistent with NAPC's mission and for strongly supporting my representation of JCCI in NAPC's activities.

So, thanks to all of you for helping create the collective energy that has resulted in great things-and which, I feel sure, will generate greater things in the future.

"Retirement" for me is going to be an active, engaged affair, so I look forward to some sort of continuing relationship with NAPC and to working out just how that relationship might evolve.

Best wishes to each of you and your respective Councils as you continue doing the GOOD WORK we all believe in so strongly.

David

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