President's Message

Hi, Friends! I hope you all went to May's luncheon on Sustainability. I wasn't able to attend (did you miss me?), but I hear it was very good. Thanks, Laura, and all on the committee for providing an excellent program.

Although there is complete information about this elsewhere in this Byline, I can't miss an opportunity to remind you all of our local TOBY competition. TOBYs are near and dear to my heart. If you missed the workshop on May 18, it's not too late! The TOBY Committee is holding a second workshop June 12 at Noon in the BOMA office. The committee wants to help you to be successful in your entry, so don't be shy. The deadline for entries is August 1, so get your wonderful buildings entered!

On a totally different note, I'm thinking a lot these days about professional ethics. I was reading an article recently by a man named Myron Curry (http://EzineArticles.com/12475), who says there is no such thing as Workplace Ethics. What??? Reading on, he says, "ethics are the same, (or, should be) whether in the workplace or in personal life." Well, I guess that's true, isn't it? If we think we can be an "ethical person" in our personal life, but adopt a different standard in our business, we make liars of ourselves in both arenas. Look back just a  year ago to U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner who, once he admitted he had sent out skanky pictures, tried to maintain that these were "personal mistakes," and maintained that "nothing about this should reflect on my official duties or oath of office." Ultimately, however, public opinion disagreed with him and he was soon gone.

We are who we are. If we are not ethical in our business dealings, then we are not ethical at all. It's partly because of this that I value professional organizations like BOMA. At BOMA Silicon Valley we recognize and adhere to professional standards. As we interact with each other through luncheons, committee work, etc., we in a sense make ourselves accountable to each other; and when we behave ethically as a BOMA Silicon Valley member, it reflects well on all of us. I like that. Hey, one more great reason to be a BOMA member!
Enough musings for this month. Catch up with you in June.

Liz Walker, BOMA Silicon Valley President