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April President's Message

March 31, 2023 11:20 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

It was a magical night that embodied Synergy……the dedication of the Frances Huntley-Cooper City of Fitchburg Common Council Chambers on March 8.


I was honored to be invited to speak on our behalf as President and I’m thrilled to say that we most definitely had terrific (and most energetic) representation from TEMPO Madison.

I’d like to share my comments from that night:

I stand here, proudly representing TEMPO Madison.

Some of you may wonder what TEMPO Madison is all about….

TEMPO Madison is comprised of approximately 230 women executives, including C-Suite leaders, presidents, vice presidents, executive directors, entrepreneurs, deans, elected officials and political appointees. We are so proud to have so many of our TEMPO Madison Sisters here with us tonight – if you can all please stand.

And…..we’re most proud to say that Frances is one of us.

Not only is she one of us, but…… few people embody TEMPO Madison’s mission to lead, engage and connect influential women of diverse backgrounds more than Frances. After all, throughout her career, she has blazed a path for other women to follow.

From everything we’ve heard today – we all know that Frances goes Big…..

She’s tenacious!!

She’s vibrant….

She’s an amazing leader…..

And…she has a big heart.

She truly has made – and continues to make a difference.

To say that Frances has played a critical role in TEMPO Madison’s history is an understatement – she has made (and inspired) countless contributions to her community thru her leadership roles in TEMPO Madison…. She’s a Past President, She’s served many years on the Board of our TEMPO of Madison Foundation, and she’s served on numerous committees.

That said, while I don’t mean to speak for Frances, I think I can safely say that one of her proudest moments was her instrumental role in bringing Maya Angelou to Madison to speak at TEMPO Madison’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, this was also the year that Frances was our President. While that event took place 20 years ago, our members continue to say it was a highlight – and for some, it was life-changing.

I would like to share two quotes by Maya Angelou's that I believe truly speak to who Frances is: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” and “If you’re going to live, leave a legacy, make a mark on the world that can’t be erased.”

Well done, Frances! You’ve left (and continue to leave) a mark on the world and a legacy that can’t be erased.

We’re most proud that our TEMPO Madison Foundation was able to donate the plaque honoring Frances and we’re most proud of the role that TEMPO Madison’s DEI committee had in helping to organize this commemoration.

On behalf of TEMPO Madison, Congratulations Frances, we could not be more proud than to have YOU as one of us.

As a follow up to last month’s column, I’m pleased to report that your TEMPO Madison Board held a day-long Stratetic/Long-Range Planning Session on Friday, March 17. A special thank you to Susan Thompson for her generosity and leading the day (this is one of Susan’s skills in her profession). And…a special thank you to all of our TEMPO Madison Board members (and of course, Erin) for their enthusiasm, candor, and most importantly, vision. While it will take a bit for the plan to be finalized, I’ve no doubt that TEMPO Madison will realize the benefits of that day for many years to come.

If you haven’t yet signed up for TEMPOShares (May 2 at Vitense Golfland), please do so now. There are many opportunities to provide support, from donating experiences to sponsorships to simply attending and maybe bringing a guest or two. It will be a no-pressure (hey, it’s mini golf ), fun-filled night and I look forward to seeing you there!

As always, my sincere appreciation for your support.

Michelle Vetterkind, 2022-2023 TEMPO Madison President

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