“Come gather ‘round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you Is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ Or you sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’.” –Bob Dylan

We have heard these words many times before. But, we might have forgotten what they really mean. Take a moment, read the words again. Feel what the words really mean. Try to picture who Bob Dylan tried to speak to. Visualize their reaction as they wonder if these words really target them and if the lyrics will change their perspective and change their life. There’s a connection. A gap between those who need to change and those who realize they need to change. You are probably chuckling inside because you already think about all the people that stand in the way of progress. Or maybe you’re reflecting on what this means for you, your friends, and family – what it means for your future. Either way, this is a time when there are supposed to be more questions than answers. This gives credit unions purpose. And if we don’t answer all the questions, someone else will set out to uncover the path forward. Maybe it’s easier to leave it alone. Perhaps this really is a puzzle for someone else to solve. But we know you don’t accept that to be true. Dylan’s words were crafted in 1964. Now, 49 years later, the message still rings true. Think about the deep meaning of the words as they apply to amazing challenges we face today. And then take a deep breath. Yes, the times are a changin’ The message is personal. Sometimes brutal, often humbling, when accepted. But, this…this is our time to not only learn whether or not we will sink, barely make it to the shore or swim freely. It’s much more: something amazing, something transformative. Welcome to the intersection of reality and possibility. No reason to panic; you are not alone. There are many standing with you at this junction. Many of them will attend THINK 13 in Chicago. But each of you has his or her own path to follow, and what you do next is yours and only yours to define. While that may sound either trite, abstract, or both, the future does in fact to being with you and will be defined by you.