As this Triangle AMA year comes to a close, I can't help but become a little nostalgic. It's been a tremendous year for the association! We've reached some great milestones and had some fabulous accomplishments. Of course, there are always new achievements to strive toward and at a recent Board planning meeting I was reminded that at times we must regroup, rethink, and restructure our approach. Even for activities that have gone well, there should still be room for new ideas that could make it even better.

Along this vein, I remember a story about five monkeys in a cage. In the middle of the cage is a set of stairs and at the top of the stairs is a bunch of bananas being dangled by a rope from above. The stairs are the only way to reach the bananas. Almost immediately a monkey starts up the stairs to get the bananas, but just as he does the entire group of monkeys is doused with ice cold water. Later another monkey tries and the same thing happens.  Any time any of the monkeys starts up the stairs, the entire group is doused. Well it doesn't take long before the group of monkeys begins to attack any monkey that starts up the stairs. Later, one monkey is removed from the cage and replace with a new monkey who has not experienced the dousing. As he begins up the stairs the other monkeys attack him. Next a second monkey is replaced and he too begins up the stairs after the bananas. The entire group (including the first replacement monkey who has never been doused with water) attacks him. This continues until all five original monkeys are replaced.  Even though none of the monkeys currently in the cage have ever been doused with water, they will still not let any monkey up the stairs.  Why???  Because this is way we've always done it here!

I love this story!  I think it's a great reminder to challenge our assumptions, try new things, and never, never get caught in the trap of "because that's just how we do things here."  Even when a group is as accomplished and successful as Triangle AMA, there is always room for improvement, always a new milestone to reach for. As this year's Board wraps up its term and turns things over to the incoming group, I'm so excited to hear their new perspective and look forward to the amazing things they will accomplish as they bring fresh ideas and a new energy to bear.

I bid the new Board a warm welcome, and you (all the members) a warm farewell-- but not goodbye.  I'll see you at some upcoming Triangle AMA activities I'm sure.  Thank you for your support and encouragement this past year!