TIM CLIFFORD RETIRES FROM RAF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“If you just work on stuff that you like and you’re passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.” – Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook.
I think Tim Clifford must have chatted with Mark Zuckerberg when Mark was a kid, since that is how Tim has lived his life. (Unfortunately, Tim didn’t think of Facebook, but my guess is that he’s just fine with that.)
Over a dozen years ago Trish and I were attending a company meeting (our day job stuff) in Florida and got word from RAF founding director Jerry Cain that there was this guy Tim Clifford who owned a Husky and might be interested in the RAF mission. That was in the day when a 2+ hour drive each way across Florida seemed like just the thing to do to sign up a new member. We were invited to dinner with Tim and his wife Ann at their Bear Lake home.
That dinner turned into much more than I could ever have imagined. Not only did a lifetime friendship begin, but the RAF gained a talent in a person (and Ann’s support) that has truly been a creative force behind the RAF. The rest of us have at times, tried to ride the Tim Train, tried to sidetrack it, tried to derail it, but mostly we just tried to harness the creative energy that helped to grow the RAF to what it is today.
Tim’s motto is that you better show up, as long as there is not a high probability of going to jail, just to see what happens.
You may not see Tim’s fingerprints on things at the RAF, but rather his footprints, since he just waded right in up to his elbows.
He is not going away, just stepping back since there is much left for the RAF to do, and we are fortunate that he still wants to “show up” from time to time.
His interest in music will no doubt take a surge but don’t be surprised to see Tim and Ann’s Husky on short final to our favorite places.
Am I ever glad personally – and I know the RAF is better off – for that dinner 12 years ago.
Tim and Ann…Thank you and we love you.
Submitted December 18, 2016.