A DIFFERENT KIND OF VACATION

By Edwin Cooney

As Amtrak Train Number 6, known as the California Zephyr, chugged eastward out of Emeryville, California (a subdivision of Oakland) on the morning of Monday, June 7th 2010, I was irrevocably on vacation. In addition to recreation, I had two additional goals. The first was to make new friends while strengthening the bond of love and affection that already exists with my family and a number of old friends. That goal, for the most part, was happily accomplished.

My second goal was to win an election. Yes, indeed! As young as I no longer am, I’m still a man of ambition. As perhaps some of you have gathered from reading these pages, I love politics and I love politicians. The truth is, however, I’m really a terrible politician. I don’t schmooze particularly well, I could be a much better listener than I am, and my political rhythm is as poor as a drunken drummer on steroids.

One of my passions these days is the welfare of the Alumni Association of my high school alma mater—the New York State School for the Blind. My talents include an ability to set organizational goals and objectives and, in particular, the ability to conduct reasonably brief and productive organizational business meetings. My knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order is a bit above the average “bear’s” and, from many years of observation, I possess the capacity to judge the mood of a meeting. I’m also pretty adept at marshalling the personal connections and resources necessary to get things done.

Along with the above mentioned abilities, I possess a certain audaciousness or presumptuousness. I ran for the presidency of our Alumni Association two years ago and lost by a single vote. Due, in part, to the narrowness of my previous loss (but perhaps more to my certainty that I possess what it takes to accomplish what I understand to be the membership’s fondest objectives), I offered my talents once again to serve as President of that association. This time the really splendid gentleman who occupies that office and gently put me in my place two years ago gave me a really sound thumping. This time, President Steven Blow won by a vote margin of better than two to one. Two years ago I merely said ouch. This time, I don’t mind telling you that “ouch” doesn’t even begin to adequately describe the pain.

That sense of pain can be overwhelming unless I keep the following realities in mind: first, election victory is an honor, not an entitlement; second, each vote I received was a gift, not a wage; third, and perhaps most important of all, the reality is that some of my friends--especially in an organization such as this one where loyalty is as significant as issues—voted for the incumbent.

Of course losing an election has to be painful. If it weren’t painful there would have been neither honor nor joy in success. The present danger is that I may well be remembered more for my ambition than for my genuine value to the organization. Hence, you may be sure that even before the election was held, I had an idea of what I would like to do to benefit my fellow alumni in or out of office.

Ah! But this was a vacation after all. Long after the pain of this election has passed I can: bask in the powerful intellect of my newfound friend Scott; luxuriate in the ongoing generousness of my friend Chet and his wife Lady Linda; appreciate the warmth of my friends Paul, Tim and Ken for their thoughtful encouragement; be grateful that Edith (the lady I call mother) still thrives at 100 years plus; be eternally grateful for the patience of my best friend Roe; always remember how lucky I am that a guy named Bob takes such good care of me whenever I’m back East; and be glad for all of the other opportunities that lie ahead of me if I allow myself to seize them.

My friend Chris launched me on my vacation and my younger son Ryan met me on my return to Emeryville aboard Train Number 5: the original California Zephyr.

Have I, you may well ask, learned to stay out of alumni politics? My answer is: of course not. After all, the best antidote for political defeat is political success. Besides, some things hurt real good!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY