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WACES President’s Message

September 2011

from Chris Wood

"I'm so glad we've had this time together, just to share a laugh, …." Do you remember Carol Burnett closing her show with this line? She was always someone I was impressed with - her fearless nature and clever wit. So I'll steal her line to use in my WACES Past-President's goodbye letter (During the Past President's Goodbye Letter is a good time to renew your WACES membership - RENEW YOUR WACES MEMBERSHIP online at http://www.regonline.com/wacesmembershipregistration).

I have especially enjoyed working with the WACES Executive Board and the ACES Executive Board – and there was definitely no shortage of laughs! We also worked hard to start some initiatives and get various elements of the WACES association secure for the future. WACES made technological improvements through a new website (www.waces.org), online conference registration for the WACES 2010 conference, online WACES membership application and renewal (RENEW YOUR WACES MEMBERSHIP online at http://www.regonline.com/wacesmembershipregistration), and an updated listserv for tracking WACES membership and polling members on WACES events such as conference location. WACES' finances are better than they've been for many years and have allowed us to start some new initiatives including research awards for students and faculty.

So it's a good time to become more involved in WACES (a good time to RENEW YOUR WACES MEMBERSHIP online at http://www.regonline.com/wacesmembershipregistration). At the upcoming ACES conference in Nashville, TN members will have a chance to converse about WACES initiatives and give input on next year's WACES conference.
As you think about becoming more involved in WACES, consider running for a leadership position. One of my final duties as WACES Past-President is to run the next elections. In addition to nominations for President I will be seeking nominations for Secretary and Treasurer as those two year terms are up for election this year (so to be eligible to run or vote be sure to --- RENEW YOUR WACES MEMBERSHIP online at http://www.regonline.com/wacesmembershipregistration).

Also, please renew your membership!!! I know it can be easy to let it go in between conferences so please don't let it slip your mind. Remember that membership is good for two years and it has moved to a cycle commensurate with the bi-annual WACES conference. The online membership renewal is prorated based on the two year renewal cycle so if you renew now you will only have to pay for the current year and you will qualify for the reduced registration rates at the 2012 WACES conference.

So I say goodbye to you as WACES President but I'm looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming ACES conference! In the words of another hero of mine, Mr. Rogers, …"You'll have things you want to talk about…I will too."