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October 2026 Newsletter
President's Report
From the President: Gratitude, Pride, and the Road Ahead
As my term as President comes to a close, I find myself reflecting not only on what we accomplished this year, but more importantly, on the people who made those accomplishments possible.
To each member of our EWI family, thank you.
Thank you for your encouragement, your ideas, your time, your flexibility, and your willingness to step forward whenever something needed to be done. Leadership may begin with a title, but the success of a Chapter is never the work of one person. It is built through people who care enough to show up, work together, and support one another.
I am especially proud of what we accomplished with our Readers Rock! Reading Rally. The success of this event was the result of countless hours of planning, preparation, volunteering, problem-solving, and teamwork. Every contribution mattered. Whether you worked behind the scenes, volunteered on the day of the event, helped secure resources, encouraged others, or simply asked, “What can I do to help?”, you were part of making Readers Rock! such a tremendous success.
More importantly, our work represented something much bigger than an event. Together, we demonstrated what can happen when people unite around a shared purpose and invest their time and talents in our community. I hope we never lose sight of that.
As we welcome our 2026-2027 officers, I encourage each of you to lead with confidence, but also to give yourselves the grace to learn along the way. You do not have to know every answer on the first day. Listen to one another. Trust the strengths around you. Be willing to try something new. Most of all, remember why you said yes to serving.
John C. Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” I would add that some of the best leaders also know when to walk beside others.
That is what I hope to do next year as Chapter Advisor.
While my role will change, my commitment to this Chapter will not. I look forward to supporting our new officers, sharing what I have learned, providing guidance when it is helpful, and being there when an extra set of hands or an encouraging word is needed. My hope is not to lead from the front next year, but to help our new leadership find its own voice, build upon what we have accomplished, and take our Chapter even further.
Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” I cannot think of a more fitting reflection on this year.
I leave the presidency with tremendous gratitude and pride, not because of what I accomplished, but because of what we accomplished together.
Thank you for trusting me to serve as your President. Thank you for standing beside me throughout the year. Thank you for believing in our Chapter, in Readers Rock!, and most importantly, in one another.
The end of a presidency is not the end of the journey. It is simply the moment when you pass the torch, step alongside the next leaders, and cheer a little louder for their success.
I am excited about what lies ahead for EWI of Chattanooga, and I will be right there with you.
With heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for each of you,
Upcoming Webinars
Click Here to Register!
Professional Development Webinar: Stop Overthinking. Start Moving Forward.
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10/14/2026 |
| When: | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 12:00 PM Central |
| Where: | United States |
| Presenter: | Penny Casselman |
Stop Overthinking. Start Moving Forward.
Stop Settling for “Fine.” Choose Yourself. Go After More.What if the thing keeping you from what’s next isn’t a lack of ability—but the belief that you need everything figured out before you begin?It’s easy to settle into “fine.” The career is fine. Life is fine. Things are working. And yet, somewhere underneath all that fine, you know there’s something more you want—to experience, accomplish, contribute, or become.In this engaging, story-driven and interactive session, award-winning speaker and Certified High Performance Coach Penny Casselman introduces the Red Marker Moment®—the moment you recognize where you’ve been settling, choose yourself, and begin moving toward more without waiting for perfect clarity or a perfect plan.Through personal stories, humor, reflection, and audience participation, Penny will challenge attendees to consider what they want more of—personally, professionally, and in the difference they want to make—and identify one meaningful step that moves them forward.Attendees will:Pinpoint where they may be settling for “fine” instead of going after more.Reframe choosing themselves from something selfish to something necessary for growth.Discover why clarity often comes through movement rather than before it.Recognize their own Red Marker Moment and what it may be asking of them.Choose one meaningful next step they can take immediately.
Member Birthdays
October Birthdays at EWI of Chattanooga 🎂
October is here, and with the changing leaves comes a chance to celebrate some of the wonderful people who make EWI of Chattanooga what it is. Please join us in wishing a very happy birthday to:
Vicki Scott: October 8th
Tammy Hargis: October 19th
We’re so grateful to have you with us! Whether you spend the day with family, friends, or a slice of your favorite cake, we hope it’s a great one.
If you see Vicki or Tammy around the office this month, be sure to stop by and wish them a happy birthday!
Ronald McDonald House Chattanooga
