Well Family, another year has come and gone.  1998 was as wild, but we survived it for the most part.  Some of us are a little more cynical, some have learned a valuable lesson on associations, some have accomplished some of the arm-long list of goals we set for ourselves.  Some saw great strides in our community.  Some created great strides for the community.  Some of our Elders became Ancestors, while new Leaders are being created and nurtured.

Some did little, saw little, read little, learned little or just stood still.  "Marking Time" how it is called in the Military.  Marking time, means to march in place - neither advancing nor retreating.

To mark time is to waste the gift of life THE CREATOR has blessed us.  When given the gift, THE GIVER gave us the potential to be all we dreamed.  In order to do these, we have a few responsibilities.   First we must be the best we can be.  Be the best Child of HIM, the best Man or Woman we can be, and the best individual we can be.  Second, we must prepare.  No child is born with the ability to function as an adult, there are many things to learn and experience in order to become a mature adult.  To waste training or preparation time decreases our chances of gaining full maturity.  In order to maximize this time, we should learn all we can.  It has been said knowledge is power.

Once maturity is achieved, there is work to do.  Work, ahh that magic word.  It means many things to many people.  In this article is does not mean employment (though that is not a bad word, per say).  In this article, it means to repay or assist the community where you spent your training or preparation time.

In the smallest sense, that time was spent in the home of the adults who nourished you.  That's right, home!  In a larger sense it means the neighborhood you grew up in.  In yet a larger picture, it means the community you are a part of.  We can also speak of the country, land mass, or planet you belong to.

Let 1999 see us join together, as one people to clean, assist, educate, share with, enable, mentor, learn, and that most important LOVE each other.  We have this duty, this responsibility, which is slipped into the gift of life.  Let's go into 1999 with fresh minds, spirits and hearts.  Let us pledge to plan our work, and then more important, work our plan.  Let's not Mark Time, it is far too valuable to waste.