Happy August!  It’s hard to believe that there’s only about a month before summer starts to come to a close.  I always have to remind myself that summer, if you look at the calendar, is just as long as our other three seasons but it’s too short and oh-so-sweet here in Madison.  I hope you are able to take some time this month to be with those you love whether it be on a family picnic, reunion, or travels. I’ll be taking part in the latter two while trying to stay as safe as possible during this pandemic.

Speaking of our new normal, when was the last time you were in a museum?  As I asked myself this same question, I came up with December 2019.  Considering I used to make it to museums at least every few months, this has been a sad dry spell.  I miss museums and am ready to get back to surrounding myself with beautiful and meaningful works of art.   COVID-19 has certainly presented challenges to all of us as individuals, businesses, organizations, governments and industries.  One industry that has really had more than its fair share of challenges is nonprofit organizations, particularly community arts organizations.  This month, we’ll get the chance to learn about the challenges one of our local arts organizations faced during the pandemic and how they met those challenges and stayed true to their mission of providing a space to engage in conversations about our world.  I hope you’ll be able to join me for our August luncheon, when Christina Brungardt, Director of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art talks to us about her experiences dealing with those challenges while charting a course for their future in our community. 

TEMPO Madison is also charting our course for the future. We have a plan in place to transition to hybrid programming in September 2021. We are all eager to get back to connecting with one another. The past year-and-a-half has shown us all how meaningful and important our TEMPO Madison relationships are. 

A couple weeks ago, we lost too soon, one very dear TEMPO Madison Member and Past President (2008/09), Sue Ann Kaestner.  Sue Ann was beloved by many fellow TEMPO Madison members.  I remember her for her willingness to jump in and help with anything when I was part of the TEMPO Madison Foundation.  The bonds of our TEMPO Madison sisterhood were evident when I arrived at her visitation last week.  The room was full of caring and grieving TEMPO Madison sisters. Many past Presidents and a founding member were present.  It felt so good to come together to celebrate Sue Ann’s life.  I think she would have loved that we had a chance to commune together in her honor. Sue Ann asked that any memorial donations in her name be made to our TEMPO Madison Foundation.  For that we are honored.

As we embark on our group’s 40^th year of existence I’m consistently reminded of why we have come together.  It’s all about the sisterhood we’ve developed.  We support and step up for one another, through the good times and in times of sorrow.  It’s through those experiences that we really do embrace our mission of leading, connecting and engaging with women of our community.    If you are new to our group, welcome!  We cannot wait to get to know you. 

Finally, I’ll close with I hope you have seen some of our recent social media teasers about the speakers for our 40^th kickoff event on October 27^th at the Edgewater Hotel.  The photos will make you smile.  The full “reveal” Is set for August 4^th.  Stay tuned!

With gratitude,

Elaine Rich

TEMPO Madison President