My initiation as incoming President of the ASC was a bit unusual. ASC Presidents usually officially take the office at the June Board meeting. However, Janet Booth, the President before me, did not like the fact that Mercury would be retrograde at that June meeting. So, she changed the convention and inaugurated me at our season’s final meeting in May. It just so happened that Bruce Scofield, who is known as an electional astrologer, was speaking at that meeting. Janet asked Bruce if he would pick a good time during that evening for her to hand the presidential gavel over to me. He did so, and after the ceremony, Janet joked with me that perhaps we shouldn’t have picked that particular chart, because Algol, the fixed star of decapitation, was exactly on the Ascendant, and she didn’t want to see me "beheaded" in office.

My first ASC meeting as President was in September 2001. Yes, right after 9/11. And, the final spring of my term as President was in 2003 – yep, "The Strike on Baghdad." We had come full circle. I’m glad my term isn’t remembered as the "Reign of Terror."

One of the highlights during my term was our ASC’s 30^th anniversary celebration. I was asked to act in Janet Booth’s play about the history of the ASC. I was the "Wizard of Astrology," a sort of cosmic narrative character. It was a blast working with Janet and everyone, rehearsing in Agneta’s basement. The party was absolutely fabulous and everyone drank, dined and danced until exhausted. Bruce Scofield’s band provided the live music. They are unbeatable for dancing and listening. With two astrologers in the band, how could we go wrong!

Another highlight of my term was being chosen by UAC (United Astrology Congress) to not only represent the ASC at UAC’s President’s Council, but to be a co-facilitator. It was quite exciting to share with other independent groups throughout this country about the ASC and to bring home some new ideas. One thing that was greatly impressed upon me during that UAC, was that the ASC is nationally recognized as one of the top astrological societies. Speakers from all over the world told me that the ASC is one of the prize places to speak, because of it’s fine reputation of treating speakers well, and of really caring about astrology and its future.

In June 2003, the same month that Julianne Johnson took over the office of President, I had a thyroidectomy. It was a little freaky thinking back how Janet was worried about my entering office with Algol on my Ascendant, and how now I, in fact, ended my term with my neck being sliced open. Astrology does play out—often with a sense of humor, thank goodness!