A Glance into the Future
As summer starts to wind down we are getting closer to the end of this year. Ohio NABCJ has been busy all across the state. This was a very challenging year for many of our members.
I want us to be mindful of our NABCJ family members who suffered job loss as a result of the reorganization at DRC and also of those who were displaced into different positions. Also I want to publicly thank those who showed support to affected persons and who reached out and showed support to those in leadership positions who had to make difficult decisions.
Three weeks ago 32 members of the Ohio Chapter showed up in Orlando, Florida and we showed out!! Ohio left there with three National Award recipients, Dr. Wanza Jackson, Vernise Robinson and Michael Davis. Tonya Ellis, Les Blakemore, Sheri Talley, Tracey Tyson Parker, Robert Smith, Kathy Howard and I all received our Lifetime Membership awards.
Toni Brooks, Darryl Graves and Jeff Carson were presenters and each of them had standing room only in their respective workshops. On Tuesday night, 75 special guests paid tribute to Jeff Carson as the outgoing National VP at a very classy reception. We had a real good week. Dottie Peoples and Wintley Phipps were both phenomenal and left us all feeling inspired. Now, there was time for folks to have some fun and leisure activity and believe me everyone did!
There were several important things that took place at the Presidents Council meetings and I want to relay that information to the membership. Effective May 1, 2009, the election process will change for all of the NABCJ Chapters. We will vote for all Affiliate Officers and State Board Officers in May, but no later than June 30th. The new Officers will be installed on July 1, 2009. This was done so all NABCJ Chapters will be unified in their voting processes and so all Chapters would have an opportunity to nominate and have persons from their state eligible to be elected into President Council positions. What this means for Ohio is we will no longer hold elections prior to our conference. We will be planning a reception of some type for July, 2009 to introduce all new State and Affiliate officers. Any Chapter who has the President Elect system, such as Ohio will allow the seated President to serve out their term in 2009 until the end of their term or their state conference, which ever comes first.
The second change is that any state officer with the name “president “ in their title is eligible to run for office on the Presidents Council and are eligible to vote on any issues before the council. This means the Ohio Chapter will now have three votes on any issues as the President, President Elect and the Vice President will all be able to vote.
As a result of that change President Elect Toni Brooks was sworn in as the Vice President of the Presidents Council. Congratulations to Ms. Brooks! I was also sworn in as your third Midwest Regional Director, joining Mr. Garey Burt and Mr. Keith Cooper. Mr. Garey Burt has also been elected as the Assistant Secretary for the National Office. Thanks for the votes!!
Well, we are now getting ready for our annual Dr. Bennett J. Cooper Scholarship Golf Outing to be held on September 12, 2008. Chairs Curtis Wingard and Doug Richard have gone above and beyond to make this one of the best. Get your registration forms from your Affiliate Chairs. It will be held at the Phoenix Golf Course in Grove City. Registration for golfers is $65 and volunteers will need to pay a $20 registration fee.
The Conference is scheduled for October 26-28, here in Columbus, Ohio. Registration information will be sent out before August 29th. We have a great conference planned. You may start booking your rooms now at the Marriott Northwest, Dublin Ohio. The code for the group rate is: NABNABA
It is very encouraging to see the younger sisters and brothers stepping up to the plate to make sure Ohio NABCJ remains not only the largest chapter in the country but also the most progressive. We have to keep the fire burning. In October we will be revealing our new Ohio NABCJ motto which was created from the principles Dr. Cooper based the creation of NABCJ upon. Stay tuned…..
Take time to be kind and take time to enjoy life. We are after all our brother and sisters' keepers.
Committed to Service,
Andrea L. Carson
Andrea L. Carson
This page last modified on Friday, August 22, 2008