Letter from Don Treinen on the occasion of his retirement

March 28, 2005

Greetings,

First, it is important to me that each of you know how much I have both enjoyed this journey, and how much I appreciate the contributions of each and every one of you. Your contributions have touched hundreds of thousands of lives all across this country, and they have touched me in ways I am certain I do not yet fully know.

I was also touched by you sharing your thoughts, both in person and in the letters you have sent to me. Last week the luncheon was a special event for me, and it is because of each of you I have gotten to know over these many years. As I said at the luncheon, organizations by themselves are not important. The importance of organizations is the people who make them up. This will always be the case so remember to treat each other with utmost respect and always challenge each other to be your best.

When we began the Alliance in October 1986, we really had no idea we together would grow it to what it is today.

The Alliance is a collection of people who have touched the world one person at a time.
The Alliance is a rare vehicle for helping people with diverse interests and motivations to work together for a common purpose.
The Alliance has been studied internationally both for how it is structured and for what it has accomplished.
The Alliance has been and continues to be a beacon of hope for untold numbers of workers, their families, and their aspirations.
And, The Alliance is a work in progress. Hopefully, you will make certain it will always be that.

You are now at a crossroads in your history. The Alliance must grow because to stagnate is to go backwards compared to the world in which you live. There are opportunities. It is your responsibility to find them, to nurture them, to bring them to life and to help them grow to maturity. Your future here, to a large degree, rests on this vital work.

I see my tenure here as the start of something significant. I see your future here as the opportunity to take The Alliance to the next level.

I am confident and satisfied that you will remember your history, will seize your opportunities, will learn when you stumble, and will celebrate when you succeed.

Set your goals wisely.
Assume your individual roles within The Alliance with enthusiasm.
Develop and sustain operating principles that will sustain you and The Alliance.
Establish how you want to win, measure it, and move it to new heights.

If you do these things, you will GROW individually, organizationally, continuously.

Don Treinen