Dear NCLA Family,

I hope everyone is having a good and busy summer.  This summer has been completely different from last year.  We didn’t have hardly any rain until August, but this year we have hardly gone a day without rain shower or thunderstorm.  As I continue to get older the less I can take the heat or I should say the more I have to prepare for it.  Over the past few years, I have learned that life happens.  As a matter of fact, “Life” has become a normal comeback line for how life is.  Whenever things are going well, “life.”  When things are going bad, “life.”  Life happens to us all, it's all in how we look at it.  When life comes at me, I do my best to enjoy it or not let it get me down.  I have to remind myself that billions of people went through life before The Lord put me here on this earth.  There are two things I try to do with the time I have left.  One, is to honor my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with how I chose to live for Him, and second, to honor and serve my fellow man.  These two things sum up the purpose and meaning of life.   

As locksmiths, there has always seemed to be a brother/sisterhood of people who worked as individuals, but also, helped one another when the time came.  There has been a shift in culture, in just my lifetime, where that is seemingly going away.  That is still one of the best attributes to the NCLA that I can bring to light.  There are those who still take the time to help.  I pray that it will continue in the future.  If the younger generation could understand what knowledge and wisdom they can get from seasoned locksmiths. This information far surpasses what they could ever get from social media or AI, for that matter.  Technology will continue to shape the future, but it is still up to us to keep humanity's side of the equation. 

I want to take a moment to recognize our current officers and board members.

First Vice President: Brandon Whigham
Second Vice President: Roy Young
Treasurer: Jennifer Richards
Assistant Treasurer: John Campbell
Sergeant At Arms: David Moore 
Assistant Sergeant At Arms: Reid Skinner
Secretary: Debbie Derruisseaux

These are your current officers.  Some of the best people and locksmiths I know are on this list.  Each of these individuals have served for years because they love the NCLA and the people.  If you talk to them, they can tell you stories, good and bad, but they never gave up and continue to give their time to the association.   

Next are your board members.

Johnny Hefner 2025-2027
Alan McKinney 2025-2027
Joseph Ham 2024-2026
David Turner 2024-2026
Joe Higgs 2023-2025
Rafe Rountree 2023-2025

Much like the officers, they too have put time and effort into keeping the NCLA moving forward. They truly care about the association and its future.  I have complete faith in them moving forward.   

My time as president is coming to an end.  It has been a very unique, and humbling experience.  My hope is that as the association moves forward, they will be able to build on the foundation that has been laid.  That foundation is the choices of the members.   

My hope is to see you in Sanford, NC in just over a month.  I pray until then, that you will have a cool and busy rest of the summer. 

In Christ, 

Waldo