NWAAAE UPDATE

August 2003

Tom Binford, Chapter President

First I want to apologize for the long delay in providing you an update on the activities of the NWAAAE.  For those of you that have not heard, our Executive Secretary, Janelle Olson decided to take a leave of absence from her Chapter duties several months ago.  While we were very sad to receive this news we understand and support her decision.  Since her departure, the Board has been painfully reminded how much Janelle did for our association.  During the last few months we have spent most of our time trying to get reorganized.  For this reason we wanted to take just a few minutes and update you on some of the activities we have been working on.

Plans For Filling the Executive Secretary Position - This Fall the Board will meet to discuss and hopefully select a new Executive Secretary.  My desire is to have someone in this position by no later than November 1, 2003 to allow him or her to be involved with our annual dues drive and to participate in the many activities associated with our annual conference.  If any of you have thoughts or suggestions about this position please contact me or one of the other Board members.

Update of the Membership Directory - Our Membership Directory has not been updated since 2001.  With the assistance of long time chapter member and Past President, Ed Storer (Eagle, CO) we have been updating the records for several hundred-chapter members.  The good news is we have just about completed this process and hope to be able to send you a new directory by October 2003.  If some of you have not responded to Ed's requests for updated personal information (address, telephone, email, fax, etc.) please send Ed this information as soon as possible.  This will help up develop an accurate and useful Membership Directory and ensure that you receive future updates and information from us.

Complete Annual Dues Collections and Establish a New Chapter Budget - Dan Mann (Second Vice President, Casper) and John Seymour (Secretary Treasurer, Missoula) have been busy transferring and updating the Chapter's financial records and budget.  Dan is also finishing up the 2003 dues collections that Janelle was unable to complete.  If you have questions or concerns about your current membership status, please contact Dan for assistance.

Chapter Specialty Conferences - As you are aware much of our annual income is received from our specialty and annual conferences.  Once again, this year we have partnered with AAAE to hold the 26th Annual International Airport Facilities Conference (IAFC) in Portland, Oregon, and the 2nd Annual Resort Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. 

§         The IAFC is being held in conjunction with a Wildlife Management Workshop September 7-9, 2003 at the Doubletree Portland.  John Newell from Portland is chairing this year's conference committee.  Additional committee members from the Portland area include Sharon Gordon, Larry Medearis, Dana Green, Andy Priebe, Shawn Warren, Chuck Shenk, and Ken Cook.  Dan Man and Daren Griffin from the NWAAAE Board are also assisting with the conference activities.  This will be a well-organized and informative session and would encourage you to attend.  For more specific information on the conference please contact one of the committee members, or Kate Hood or Susan Lausch at AAAE.

§         The Resort Conference will be held October 12-14, 2003 at the Sun Valley Resort Lodge.  Conference committee members include Rick Baird, George Larson, Norm Hicks, Pete Kramer, Rex Tippetts, and Ted Soliday.  Anyone of these committee members or Ellen Horton at AAAE can provide you more information about what they have planned.  Since many of the NWAAAE members work at or near resort areas, we hope this will continue to be a conference that provides value to your organizations.

Annual Conference - The 2004 Annual NWAAAE Conference will be held at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, April 3-8, 2004.  Conference Chairman Richard Paquette is well underway with organizing a very special event.  The conference facilities are spectacular, the room rates are reasonable and the program will be educational, entertaining and diverse.  Mark your calendars now; this is one conference you will not want to miss!