I would like start by thanking you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your  SDAEOP president.  With your help I know we will have a fun and successful year.    

As a little girl I would go with my Mom and Dad to dances almost every week.  I would dance with my Dad until I got tired then I would fall asleep on the bench.  My Dad and Mom told me when asked to dance, to take the chance and dance, and if you see someone you want to dance with, ask.  You will never know what you could be missing.  If you get a chance to dance, take it.  If it changes your life it was meant to be.   Don’t be scared if you miss a step;  you will always have the satisfaction of knowing you tried.  Those of us who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.  There is music around all of us, each one of us creates our own rhythm, we only have to open our ears to hear it.  The music you create portrays who you are, the kind of person you've become, and the direction of travel you’re going.

The journey of life is a dance meant to be lived, participated in. Love the journey, and enjoy the dance, embrace each step. Listen to each note as well as taking in the whole Symphony.  Savor the simple and marvel at the complicated.  There is a song that I often hear on the radio and it is my favorite song.  I have chosen some of the lines that Lee Ann Womack sings to share with you:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted …

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean…

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin'…

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I have related dancing with other aspects in my life, family, friends, or job.

I've learned new dances along my journey, embraced new steps in my

travels, and loved music that has been created around me. 

So with that said, the theme for the 2009-2010 SDAEOP Conference that

is to be  held in Pierre is “I HOPE YOU DANCE!”