Message From the President

Making the Best of Interesting Times

By Frank Mumford

NACAS President

The 42nd NACAS Annual Conference is now but a memory, but one I hope that carries with it new friends and connections for you within our NACAS family. If you weren’t able to join us in Colorado Springs, I hope that you will make a special effort to be with us in Orlando in 2011. On behalf of the entire association, I want to thank Jeff Davis and the Program Committee, Deb Hoefer and the Host Committee, and Abby Tammen and the NACAS staff for providing us with an excellent experience. The many months of planning and preparation have once again provided the membership with great opportunities for education and camaraderie.

In preparing to write this perspective, I looked back at some of the words of my esteemed predecessors. I found Jerry Turner’s comments as he started his presidency particularly interesting. Jerry and I share a common experience, both assuming our presidency at the Broadmoor; he in 2003. The following conference was in Orlando, just as ours will be next year. But the similarities didn’t stop there.

In December 2003, Jerry wrote about his planned work for the coming year with “the newly created Certification Task Force to determine if NACAS should develop a Certification in Auxiliary Services Management Program.” While that task force determined that NACAS had work to do before taking on certification, I am delighted to report that we have stayed true to that vision and are now ready to proceed. Through the leadership of Patty Eldred and Dr. Jeff Pittman and the hard work of many member volunteers, the analysis is complete, and we are ready to develop our certification process and put the governance in place to make the program a reality. I plan to devote much of my effort this year to this important task and will keep you informed throughout the year as to our progress.

Two other goals that Jerry mentioned in his column also have managed to carry forward into our continuing work. The first was to examine the existing professional development program and work toward improvement and expansion. Second was to work with the Education Foundation to complete its mission and vision. I would venture to say that we have done well on both of these early goals.

Through initial funding from the Foundation, the Professional Development Committee has structured our “Institute” programs to meet the current needs of our members, regardless of their years of experience. They also continue to develop courses for delivery in many formats that make it convenient and affordable for our members. I know the committee will play a pivotal role in preparing NACAS members for future certification. In addition to these initiatives, the Foundation has also started two endowed funds—the Ladson Diversity fund, providing diversity scholarships, and the NACAS Leaders Future Fund, which will provide funding for research and investigation into key issues that are important to auxiliary services.

While I would love to give Jerry credit for being a wise (old) sage, I know from my experience that these ideas and initiatives are a culmination of ideas from the entire Board and leadership of NACAS at the time, just as the work we do now comes from the hard work and creativity of so many members and our NACAS staff. It is truly my privilege to work with you all and to serve as your President for the coming year.

There is an old saying, “May he live in interesting times.” Some attribute it to a Chinese curse, but curse or not, we certainly find ourselves in interesting times. They are times of layoffs and furloughs on our campuses, almost always more work for no additional pay, and never enough time to complete tasks before new ones appear. But they are also times filled with amazing new technologies and human creativity like we have never experienced.

My hope for all of my NACAS friends is that you will utilize these interesting times to continue to be campus leaders in doing more with less, and particularly in appreciating those that work so hard with you.

Thanks for all that you do on your campuses and for your profession.