Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1433567
16 I PSAI Association Insight, December 1, 2021 Past Presidents Reflect Upon the PSAI's Past: Ned Carpenter and Flay Anthony (continued from page 15) After an incredibly difficult and challenging turn of events, I found myself as not only President but also Interim Executive Director of the PSAI. The Executive Board, the Board, the Past Presidents, and countless PSAI friends—including Flay—were extremely supportive. One story about Flay demonstrates the character of the person being profiled in this chapter. It was early April 2012 and we needed Flay's help in Minneapolis at a moment's notice. We had a board meeting in May in Cali, Colombia, and we were determined not to cancel this event in light of the situation. We wanted to show that we were still viable and that we would continue to function as we had for the previous 40 years. We did need logistical help as well as assistance for a recently added certification class that was to be taught to 39 students from 13 neighboring countries—taught in Spanish, of course. I called Flay that evening in a panic, and spoke to him with quite a bit of "crowd noise" in the background at his home. Flay understood the urgency of the situation and said that he would be on a plane to Minneapolis the next morning "to help where needed." When he arrived that next day, again, reluctantly when I kept asking, he finally stated that the "crowd noise" on the call the previous night was people at his house attending his 65th Birthday Party! Complete and total dedication to the PSAI. Flay's wife Glenda performed a miracle of her own. As a teacher, she somehow managed to work with others at her school to translate the entire PSAI Training and Certification Manual into Spanish (some 200 pages) for the Cali training class. Fittingly, in 2015 the PSAI created the Flay and Glenda Anthony Volunteer of the Year Award. Flay and Glenda were the inaugural recipients. In 2016, Steve Brinton of Satellite Industries was awarded this honor. With no award in 2017, Lindy Boehme of CPACEX was the recipient in 2018. Jake Groen was honored in 2019. Flay Anthony and wife Glenda Requests: As this series of articles continues in our 50th Anniversary Year as well as the update of "PSAI Through the Decades" is composed, I would appreciate any articles, stories, remembrances, or any other information that you could share to assist in the preservations and the publication of the amazing history of our industry and our PSAI would be greatly appreciated. Email Jeff or call him at 770-206-0794. THANK YOU! Final Thoughts The PSAI was built on the premise of "members helping members to improve the industry." This continues to be the case today, some 50 years later. I am sure that each of you have benefitted from the kind and helpful words from others in our Association. Whether by learning from their successes or from their failures, you acquired knowledge that helped you to run and to further improve your business. Past Presidents of the PSAI not only help other members, but they also have a profound influence on both current and future board members. Serving as both role models and "voices of experience," these leaders continue to play a vital role in the PSAI. From my perspective, I could not think of any two Past Presidents that have had such an impact on me from both a professional and a personal level. Thank you for your leadership and for your support, Ned Carpenter and Flay Anthony.