Letter from the President

Members and Friends of SMPS Alabama,

It has been my sincere pleasure to serve as president of this chapter for the past year!  I have enjoyed getting to know and working with you to advance our relationships and effectiveness in our profession.  Together, we conducted a couple of experiments and experienced some sobering jolts this year.

First, we attempted to change our meeting location in a home we found at the Vulcan Conference Center.  Many of you remarked that the parking and space there were positive, but there were challenges, as well.  The incoming 2013/2014 board will address those, going forward, and will be sure our meeting location is convenient and accommodating to our members. 

We also made some attempts, beyond Birmingham, to reach other members and prospects in our state.  We welcomed onto our board Whitnee Sandlin, a member from Tuscaloosa who helped us strategize our next steps to become more of a "state" chapter that truly serves all those in our profession throughout the state.  We're not there yet, but more will come regarding this initiative.  

We began a study group for the CPSM exam thanks to past president, Barri Garrison (thanks for your patience, Barri!).  We will continue to pursue, for each and every member so desiring, the registration that SMPS promotes for our profession, in exploring together the course of study and registration exam. 

In our meetings, we heard from industry leaders, clients and colleagues.  We were educated in webinars offered by the national office. 

Then, thanks to the organization of Cathy Isbell and Blair Hayes, we hosted the Southeast Regional Conference (SERC) here in Birmingham in March and showed off Birmingham in all its glory to our colleagues and peers across the region.  Nothing like teaming a past president and president elect for success!  The education and networking that took place established and nurtured friendships that are continuing to grow, as I write this. Thank you again, Cathy and Blair for your work and leading the SERC committee!

Thank you, also, to the remaining members of the 2012/2013 board: Nancy Duncan, for your hard work to find our meeting location; Lindsay Malke, for attending to arrangements; Beth Gibbs, for keeping the coffers in order; Anita Echols, for your work with sponsors and the awesome band you secured for SERC's party night; Erin Elliott, for your work with membership; Melissa Butler, for your work on programs and project tours; Whitnee Sandlin, for your meeting notice and website work; Kelli Roberts, for your attention to our education pursuits and workshops; and Jennifer Durren, for your skills at recording our meetings, whether in person or by conference call.  I am indebted to you all for the time, thought, and effort you've given.

Most poignantly and sadly, we lost a dear friend this past spring when Alabama Chapter charter member Ron Garikes passed away after a long battle with ALS.  Ron, who was memorialized at the National Conference earlier this month, in a way he would have loved, will be forever remembered here in his home chapter.  I was fortunate to know Ron professionally, as did many of you, and I have no doubt that he would be excited about our future and would cheer on our attempts for further growth and education.  His professional legacy is fulfilled in the passion that each of us brings to our SMPS involvement and our concern for and caring for and FUN with one another!  I have no doubt that spirit will live on! 

We have "Dreamed Big" this year in keeping with outgoing national president, Kevin Hebblethwaite's theme for his year in service as our leader. Kevin will be with us in Birmingham August 27 - Please join us for lunch as he wraps up the year with his final thoughts about the future of SMPS!

Again, thank you.  I will always be honored to call you my friends and colleagues.  I am in awe of all that you do and will cherish my relationships built and strengthened this year!  I wish all the best to Cathy Isbell and the incoming board for 2013/2014!

I'm hearing school bells, so back to school, back to work, and all the best to you for this upcoming year!

With sincere regards and appreciation,

Cleo Kathryn 

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