Dear Seasiders of Palm Beach Shores,

First of all, a big thank you to our outgoing President, Chris Mielke, for all your hard work and organization guiding us through the 2020-21 year, a difficult one due to COVID and its restrictions. Despite not having the Bazaar, through Chris’ leadership, we were still able to donate over $14,000 to our local charities through our dedicated fund-raising efforts including the Holiday and Valentines’ Markets and the Seasiders Share by the Seashore fundraiser. Chris Mielke will be a hard act to follow.

I am pleased and honored that you have chosen me as your next President. I am hopeful that as many of us become vaccinated and COVID begins to wane that we will have a more “normal” year in 2021-22. I don’t know what normal will mean. But I am optimistic that we will all be together again soon.

I am excited to consider how we can evolve the Seasiders, a social and charitable organization, as we move into this new world. We are seeing interest in our organization as seen in all the new members installed this spring. We will still have our Book Club, our Social Group, our Thursday Community Service meetings, our field trips (COVID dependent) and many opportunities for fellowship. Some of the new things the Board is considering are expanding our social events to include late afternoon/evening events to accommodate working women’s schedules, reviewing and revitalizing our fundraising efforts, emphasizing engaging our newer members in activities and being open to new ideas for changing how we operate. But, rest assured, we will do this all in the context of promoting “the spirit of service and friendship among its members and [stimulating] interest in the community”.

The Seasiders have existed for 70 years (and we will have that celebration next year!). Your new Executive Board and I are excited to continue shifting our organization so that it will be around for another 70 years. We are a strong, creative and motivated group of women who love the Seasiders and Palm Beach Shores.

Love to all of you,

Lori Kollmeyer

November 2021