1. Expanding the world of possibilities for aging.
e-News
Excerpt Taken from May 22, 2015 LeadingAge WI e-news
Outgoing and Incoming Board Chair Remarks
During this year’s Spring Conference, attendees had the opportunity to hear from the Association’s past
and current Board Chairs, Mari Beth Borek and Doug Trost, respectively. Several attendees have asked
that their remarks be shared with the greater membership, noting their presentations appropriately
reflected on recent successes while at the same time presented challenges to the Association and its
membership.
Their remarks are provided below:
LeadingAge WI Spring Conference -- La Crosse, WI Outgoing Board Chair Comments
Mari Beth Borek, Fond du Lac, WI
A year ago at the 2014 Spring Conference, with the help of many of you, we created a photo- montage of
the importance of the “Why”: Why we do what we do. To me, this was a signature focus that I wanted to
uplift during my role as your Board Chair.
We asked for you to share photos and you overwhelmingly did through pictures of residents and tenants,
families and friends, kids, grandkids, fellow staff -- some touching, many funny – and all shared with heart.
All of these photos beautifully depicted a major theme in the Leading Age Wisconsin purpose -- that being
the purpose of caring and making a difference in the lives of others.
This year, the conference theme of “Be The Voice” leads us to how we do this –
We are the voice of change,
We are the voice of leadership
And we are the voices that can have and make an impact.
American radio and TV news broadcaster Edward R. Murrow once said, “Just because your voice reaches
halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.”
Our voices need to have an impact in a positive way - and the audience needs to be more than just ourselves
hearing our own voices or those in close earshot.
We need to continue to speak for ourselves, speak for the provider community as a whole, and speak for
those who have little or no voice.
As you look at the 2014-2015 Annual Report, and I sincerely hope you have and will, you see the huge list
of accomplishments and inroads that have been made by our very competent and exceptional staff, by the
Board, and by you, the members.

2. These accomplishments have been made individually, through networks, through education and
collaboration – and through the serious coaching, prodding and For Your Action requests put before us by
the Leading Age Wisconsin staff.
As the Association continues to strive to shape the changing future, for the benefit of the members and
those that are served, it continues to be more and more apparent that the changes continue to come at a
more rapid pace than ever before.
As an association, standing by and watching what might happen or focusing only on what we know today is
not who we are.
We have been willing to take an active and aggressive role in shaping our future – starting with strong and
sometimes pretty extensive strategic and generative conversations at the Board level, and then welcoming
and inviting the opinions and insights to be expressed by you, the members.
Engagement is crucial and has been a pivotal element this past year. This can be seen in the work that has
led to the development of the Managed Care Advisory Committee and the significant work that is
developing out of this group, to name only one.
In the 1700s, Edmund Burke, an Irish statesman, author and political theorist, stated, “Nobody made a
greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”
Never underestimate the power of a little conversation and teaching - with staff, our Boards and our
legislators and Department and governmental officials. When we all do a little – it indeed can have a huge
impact.
Advocacy has and continues to be vital. We cannot sit back and wait for someone else’s voice to be heard.
We need to be the voice and it does make a difference.
Our conversations, education and ongoing operational work need to demonstrate the voice of reason as we
engage our stakeholders in variations of perceptions and reality. It becomes our voice that can help them
know and understand the data, dollars, environments and regulations that translate into real lives and living
arrangements and services.
The ongoing development of Leadership is key to our ongoing efforts. Seeing the development, first hand
of our first sixteen I-LEAD Fellows has been one of the many significant ways that Leading Age
Wisconsin is working to cultivate and grow the leadership. The future success of member organizations and
Leading Age Wisconsin itself depends on strong cultivation and growth!
The mission and extensive work of LeadingAge Wisconsin demands a multifaceted approach that harnesses
the individual and collective strength of member organizations.
Individuals have stepped up to develop, respond, educate and share in so many ways. This translates to
provider organizations sharing best practices – again – all with the why in mind – to make a caring
difference.
The care of this association has shown through – like no other, as we have seen through fellowship and the
support of colleagues dealing with life and health issues, celebrated with well-deserved retirements and
shed tears together through losses of parents, spouses and children.
We shared our passion with those across the State as we brought the Glen Campbell “I’ll Be Me”
documentary to Wisconsin - showing the impact of Alzheimer’s on the lives of one family and the world of
music and hearing first hand from Glen’s family and friends.

3. It’s the caring that drives us to continue to make an impact - through innovation, education, advocacy,
fellowship and leadership.
Together, we are a choir of voices that rely on the strength and talents of others, to blend with our own
voice to make a difference in the lives of others.
As I end this role, I sincerely thank the Board of Directors and you, the membership, for your trust and
confidence in allowing me to be your Board Chair. It has truly been an honor.
I thank John Sauer and the entire LeadingAge Wisconsin staff for your unbelievable talents and tireless
efforts - that we only catch a glimpse of as you continue to pave the way. You are all amazing.
I end with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about
the things that matter.”
We are the Voice – and let us continue to be that voice for all that matters. We have much to do in the
months and years ahead!
Thank you sincerely for this opportunity.