March 2010

Greetings Colleagues–

In a letter to our association in November 2009, President Tom Jackson, Jr. stated, in reference to the original theme of the 2010 convention, the following (excerpt from his original letter):

"ACPA strives to be inclusive and we know there are many lessons to be learned from this experience. In the coming months and throughout future leadership meetings, the ACPA Governing Board and others will continue to work to find ways to improve the processes for all voices to be heard. As an association we will also continue to work with the Assembly Leadership to look more closely at how we may best support our many constituency groups, including standing committees and networks.

During the Boston 2010 convention there will be both opportunities to become better educated on these concerns and about the processes for addressing these concerns. Details on these opportunities will be forthcoming."

The Governing Board has spent the last two months working with constituent leaders and the convention team to provide some educational opportunities as well as time for more dialogue. We wanted you to know about and/or invite you to participate in any of the following:

• Susan Salvador (Vice President), Susan Johnson (Director of Equity and Inclusion), and Patty Perillo (Past President ) will be meeting with all CMA network chairs during the convention to talk about how ACPA leadership can more fully engage the networks and include them more broadly in ACPA;
• Susan Salvador (Vice President), Susan Johnson (Director of Equity and Inclusion), Patty Perillo (Past President), and Heidi Levine (Vice President-elect) will be meeting all Standing Committee Chairs at the convention;
• Both Native American Network & Standing Committee for Women will be offering and/or sponsoring many educational sessions as part of the full complement of convention workshop offerings;
• Rachelle Pope and Amy Reynolds will facilitate a session – Embracing innovative ideas and searching for revolutionary results: Native Americans in ACPA – Wednesday, March 24 from 8:00–9:15am, Sheraton Boston Hotel, Clarendon AB; and,
• The Governing Board invites members to an "Open Governing Board Meeting" to talk about how to best move forward together on Tuesday, March 23, at 3pm, Hynes Convention Center, 300.

We look forward to learning and leading with you.

On behalf of the ACPA Governing Board –
Susan Johnson, Patty Perillo & Susan Salvador