President’s  2010 Message
One Body, Many Members

“I have to do my part”……..I grew up in a typical American family where there was a mom, dad, 6 girls, 1 boy and a dog name peaches.  We were one body with my father, WD Mayhand being the head…..we were “the WD Mayhand family”. We were loved and nurtured, being taught the lessons of life during our fundamental years of growth in the best way our parents knew how.  Everyone in the family was a “member” of the body and had duties contributing to the well-being of the family unit.  So it was as I grew up and had my own family, this same belief was brought forward in me and I also see it in my son as he now raises his family. 

As I fast forward to this time in my life as President of the South DeKalb Business Association (SDBA), I reflect on the fact that “life’s most precious lessons are best learned in the home”. I have made  new life long friends on this journey, survived some hard bumps in the road, and met some challenges that provided significant personal growth and development, while also having the time of my life.

In reviewing where we are and where we need to be as an organization, I need your help with some priorities I have identified that will help us move forward:

• Continually  promote the quality of life of residents and business owners
• Improve operations and effectiveness
• Leverage resources for outreach programs and educational support systems
• Improve marketing and communication
• Work with our most valuable resource, by providing scholarships to youth

Thank you to those of you who are doing your part……..because of you we have had the largest donation from Wal-Mart to help our  businesses grow in marketing promotions. Because of you, our membership continues to grow in a down economy.  Because of you, we are being asked to come to the table in leadership roles to effect change in our communities. Because of you we are able to be in a Country

where “history has been made with new health-care reform in American” under the leadership of our President Barak Obama. Also because of you SDBA received the 2010 Senate Resolution 898 by Senator Gloria Butler and the DeKalb Delegation.

Thanks to  each of you for being our vision, our legs, arms, head, feet, or whatever part of the body you contributed to make SDBA a whole.  As it is written in the bible,  the church being one body, with members, each with different parts and  gifts make up the whole (Romans 12:3-21).  So let us continue to use our gifts and parts to make our SDBA membership  successful now and in years to come.

Our theme for this year is “Visionary Leadership Now for Change”.   As a three (3) term President of SDBA who loves the body of SDBA and is dedicated to doing my part, I thank you again for doing your part for the SDBA Association. I look forward to your continued support in your giving, your time, talents and encouragement of a greater South DeKalb Business Association, (SDBA).

Your President,
Linda F. Mayhand