The Third Category    

Some say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who love dogs and those who don’t. I am not sure if that is true, but I do think there may be three other kinds of people in the world: those who abide by the calendar year, those who abide by the fiscal year, and those who abide by the school year. 

For the folks who fall into the first two categories, the end of December is a time to wind down and the first of January is the start of something new. These people make resolutions (that they rarely fulfill) about exercising more, eating better, drinking less, and so forth. They are a big pack.

Those of us in the third category certainly entertain the majority’s shenanigans, but we may feel a little alien while doing so. For us, the start of the new year is September 1 (give or take a few days). We start setting our resolutions in August about completing observations in a timely manner, managing our emotions at board meetings better, drinking less, and so forth. We are out of step with the pack while contemplating the new year over Labor Day weekend.

To all of my friends who are oblivious to January 1, I wish you a continued mild winter, a smooth budget season, and a fast forward to spring break. Knock wood the resolutions you made five months ago are holding up now. And good luck pondering all that you hope to accomplish when the actual new year arrives on September 1, 2024.

Cheers,

Mike LaSusa
2023-2024 NJASA President