Well, it is May and spring has definitely sprung here in New England. The grass is green, the trees are budding, and the flowers are blooming. If you suffer from hay fever, my deepest sympathies. The Red Sox are back at Fenway, and you can hear the crack of the bat and the smell of the hot dogs. Fans are even being allowed into Fenway to see the games. Spring is definitely a time of rebirth.

For us, in healthcare, we are still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, now, for over a year. Yes, the vaccines are rolling out and the numbers are dropping, but we need to remain diligent in dealing with this virus. This of course means practicing good hand hygiene, social distancing, and wearing a mask. We need to be leaders not only in our organizations, but by setting a strong example to the communities we serve. I for one am looking forward to getting back to normal as I am sure you all are.

Many of our organizations have had to think outside the box and adapt to the pandemic in ways we never considered prior to the arrival of this plague. The speed at which our industry adapted to the needs presented to all of us was outstanding and a tribute to all of you. We clearly made a difference in slowing the spread of a highly infectious disease within our organizations.

As you are aware, NEHES postponed the annual Spring Seminar for 2021 to June in an effort to possibly have an in person seminar. That still remains a lofty goal but if we do our part we can make a difference. The Fall Conference seems like a very attainable goal for an in person conference in my estimation. It is scheduled to be held in Newport, RI. I hope to see all of you at both of the big educational sessions we have planned.

Dann M. Boyer, CHFM
2021 NEHES President-Elect