Five Years is a long time.

A high school experience. A stint in college. A tour in the military. Many don't make it five years in a job, a relationship, or a car loan before tapping out. As Grand Masters go, they usually last a year or two before something comes up to bleed their free time, creativity, and elan for the position. This isn't their fault as the head that wears the crown is a mighty heavy one. From what I've seen working along side them, it's an unenviable, laborious, contentious mantle they undertake. Hence their shelf-life.

They're human. They get tired. They wear out. The club is twenty plus years old. Many of us are married now, have children, busy lives, etc. So as we age, the ability to put in the labor like we once did is diminished. The most demanding of all positions suffers this phenomena poorly and when it occurs it is readily apparent. And almost to a man, Grand Masters eventually fade away and move on to other things.

Almost to a man.

Five Years is a long time. It was five years ago today that a man who was already an accomplished artist (Herald), an accomplished writer (ACC Champion), and an accomplished leader (Proconsul Naga Sadow) took office in order to move the club forward as Grand Master. Despite his accomplishments, any one of which would have rounded out most careers in the club, he had big shoes to fill and a laundry list of major items that needed fixing. The club was in a transformative period. It could have gone badly under the wrong man, but it didn't.

It went great. And continues to be greater still.

How do I know? Look around. Long-gone members returning. A website as sexy as it is functional. A Dark Council as talented as it is stable. A club on the verge of something many fans would pay for.

Muz Ashen did this. He put in the hours when no one else would. He fought the battles no one else would fight. He made the calls no one else had the guts to make. He has gone day-in and day-out without rest or pause. Half the time he's loved. Half he's hated. But it has never stopped him from doing what he thought was right and best. And that's all we can ask of any of us contributing to the betterment of the club. It's more than we get from most.

A consequence of Muz's dedication and tireless activity is what do you give the guy to let him know how much you appreciate him? He has everything. So pretty much anything we do won't be as impressive as we'd like, but all the same, we hope our words, and yours, will close the gap. After all, the idea is to tell our friend Muz how grateful we are for his work on our behalf. Knowing Muz though, our words will mean far more than any trinket.

As he often says, "The work is the reward." Based on that and his five-year body of work, his rewards are indeed vast and a very few stand in his company.

Ray, please accept this Diamond Sword on behalf of a grateful Deputy Grand Master, Dark Council, and Club.

-R