Greetings from Nebraska in Springtime! Exchange publisher-in-chief Jennifer Almli asked that I provide an update on RMASFAA activities, especially the RMASFAA Board of Directors meeting.

The meeting was held the weekend of February 20 and 21 in Omaha, Nebraska at the Embassy Suites Old Market. This is the location of our Fall Conference. I think all were impressed with the facility and the nice big “suite” style rooms. Conference Chair, Judi Walker, discussed vendor space and break out sessions. I think we all left very excited about the facility and impressed with the work the Nebraska Conference Planning committee has done.

One of the great joys of being your President is the chance I have to select committee chairs. It’s probably one of the most important things that any RMASFAA President does. I must say, I think I did great! My chairs and their committee members are in the midst of some exciting efforts. Let me share a bit of what we heard at the Board Meeting:

(Photos shown are from the February Board Meeting)

1. Electronic Initiatives Committee Chaired by Dennis Junk. We have just completed a major re-working of the RMASFAA web site. It looks great! Dennis also briefed the board on how to use the calendar function of the web site. This allows state presidents to provide information to the entire region such as dates for state events including conferences.
   
   
2. Summer Institute Planning Committee Chaired by Sally Schuman. If you haven’t noticed yet, the Summer Institute will be NEW! NEW! NEW! this year. A new location and a whole new curriculum. Even if you have attended SI before, this would be a great year to come back and take advantage of this fabulous effort.
   
   
3. Diversity and Multicultural Initiatives Committee chaired by Kelli Hartman. Kelli and her committee have already revamped and opened up the application process for our DMIC scholarship to the Summer Institute. Her committee, in partnership with the conference planning committee, is working on our philanthropy for the conference, Habitat for Humanity.
   
   
4. Corporate Development chaired by Mona Pearl. Well. . . I’ll tell you I gave Mona a very simple charge . . .raise some good support for us this year. She has done just that. Mona and her committee were efficient and effective and I thank her and all of our corporate partners for the incredible support for our Association activities this year.
   
   
5. Membership chaired by Terri Gruba. Terri and her committee have been as tenacious in getting members as Mona and her committee has been in getting sponsorship support.
   
   
6. Training Committee chaired by Karen Henriquez. Karen and the Board had a great discussion during the Board meeting that resulted in an idea regarding the dissemination of training material by NASFAA. We decided it would be so helpful to have the decentralized training material available to regional associations on-line. Then we could print the materials necessary for each training site “on demand”. We believe our theory could save the regions and NASFAA a ton of money! Fortunately NASFAA Chair Elect, George Chin, was at our meeting and he agreed to help us pursue this idea.
   
   
7. Association News chaired by Jennifer Almli. Jennifer already had the first edition of Exchange posted prior to the Board meeting. She and her committee are working on a new publication in addition to the Exchange . . . details to follow.
   
   
8. Last, but definitely not least, is Finance & Audit, chaired by Randy Sell. After the fall conference in Big Sky, Randy worked hard to finalize the 2004 budget which the Board approved. Thanks to Randy’s leadership, good work from Treasurer Jeanne Mott, and great work by the committee chairs, we are in good shape financially and we intend to make sure that continues.

So in closing, the best part of being the President of RMASFAA is that everybody else does the work! Happy awarding and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Summer Institute!