Challenges and Solutions. In this my twenty-fifth year at The Wellspring, I have taken time to consider our greatest challenges and solutions over the years. We have, of course, faced each day the typical multitude of financial, programmatic, personnel, and operational challenges, which have demanded solutions.  We have given them their due attention to determine solutions, but never let them dominate our time and minds in such a way that we were kept from always thinking creatively and strategically. In addition to the typical and specific challenges and solutions outlined so very well elsewhere in this annual report, I can probably say that the greatest challenge and solution for us during my time has been to build and maintain a healthy and lasting organization, which provides help, hope and haven for individuals and families faced with some of our community’s and nation’s most difficult and devastating issues. Understanding and grappling with individual and family issues that range from intensive crisis intervention and therapeutic services to community and family development on a day to day basis takes not only a supportive environment filled with vibrant energy, but also a special group of caring, competent and committed people who are guided by a compelling and meaningful mission.

Over the years, I have come to believe that there are several traits that have evolved as a part of our organizational culture that help us to not only meet but greet challenges with solutions for the organization as well as our community partners, volunteers, staff and clients. Those characteristics include knowing and telling our organizational story as a part of this community.  Our story is about strengthening and valuing the family in its many shapes and forms as the building block of our community and of society as a whole. A second trait that helps us meet and greet challenges with sound solutions is a leadership on all fronts that fits our story and holds up a common vision of making our community for better place for all our citizens to live and grow.  Having a strong core ethic of compassion is a third trait of great value in our work. A final important trait is that we celebrate our organizational life and history together. Those celebrations are both large and small and occur not only on special occasions like our annual meeting but every day as we see so many individuals and families who join with us to create better futures for themselves and who demonstrate astounding strength, resilience, and capacity for growth along the way.

I must say that in spite of the difficult and trying issues that we have faced at times, there has not been a day in the last 25 years, that I did not come to work convinced that we could make a difference even in the face disruptive forces along the way and, yes, even in spite of the sequester that looms over us so heavily at this time.  We will persevere and continue to keep the organization on the cutting edge by meeting and greeting challenges with solutions that provide help for today and hope for tomorrow in a caring and supportive environment.