Community
NACAS South News
FEATURED NEWS
- Registration is Open!
- Presidential Comments
- National Board Update
- Business Partner Update
- Professional Development Opportunities
- NACAS South Captures Two National Awards
- Vickie Somers Receives NACAS South Mentor Award
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Host Committee Recruiting Members
- Call for Nominations for Officers
- Awards Nominations Being Accepted
PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
- Click here to access pdf files of previous NACAS South newsletters
Registration is Open for 2012 Annual Conference!
Register now! Registration is open to attend the 2012 NACAS South annual conference, to be held May 5-9, 2012, in Austin, Texas.
Austin is known for being
“The Live Music Capital of the World” and being
weird…but in a good way. All this you’ll find
out when you take a stroll down Sixth Street located just blocks from
our hotel. The conference hotel is Hyatt Austin, located right on
Lady Bird Lake with beautiful views of the city and a lovely walking
path just steps away.
The theme for the 2012 conference is No Limits with Auxiliary Services. Connie Davis of Southeastern Louisiana University has put together a great program that is providing members the opportunity to enjoy sessions even earlier than usual! Charlie Salas of Texas State University – San Marcos is this year’s Host Chair. Charlie has put together some great activities, including campus tours that you are sure to enjoy.
Click here to register, make hotel reservations, or obtain information about the agenda, golf tournament, and other special events.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn valuable new skills and network with your peers!
Here are 25 reasons to come to Austin:
1. See the flight of the bats from the Congress Street Bridge!
2. Visit the “Live Music Capital of the World”!
3. Meet and learn from other professionals.
4. Take a daytrip to Enchanted Rock.
5. Participate in campus tours.
6. Take the CASP (Certified Auxiliary Services Professional) exam!
7. Bike, walk or jog Lady Bird Trail, right outside the hotel.
8. Come to the NACAS South Derby Party!
9. Take a daytrip to the caves of central Texas.
10. Attend some worthwhile conference sessions.
11. Golf, shop, dine, relax, learn!
12. Help “Keep Austin Weird!”
13. Kayak or ride a paddle boat on Lady Bird Lake.
14. Learn from and support the NACAS South business partners.
15. Take a daytrip to the home of Blue Bell ice cream.
16. Check out the Sixth Street live bands, clubs, dining, arts, and more.
17. Take a plunge into Austin’s Lake Travis!
18. Take an amphibious “Duck Tour” of downtown Austin.
19. Enjoy Austin’s distinctive “hipster-meets-cowpoke” scene!
20. Visit Austin’s Warehouse District.
21. Enjoy a walking tour through the historic district.
22. Ride a Segway in downtown Austin.
23. Visit the scenic Hill Country, where Lance Armstrong trained for the Tour de France.
24. Tour the Capitol of Texas.
25. Maintain the “Connections that Count” with your colleagues!
Photo Credits:
Austin Skyline -- ACVB Photo/Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
Bat Statue -- ACVB Photo/Dan Herron, HerronStock.com
Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail -- ACVB Photo/Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
SXSW on Sixth Street -- ACVB Photo/Denise Chambers
Texas Boot -- ACVB Photo/Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
Texas Capitol -- ACVB Photo/Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
Presidential Comments
January 2012
By Melissa Moore
NACAS South President
As I sit here computer in hand thinking about what
is the best information for me to share with the NACAS South membership,
I can only think of one item and that’s the NACAS South Annual
Conference.
When planning my budget and the conferences I attend, I answer this question, “What’s in it for me?”
Therefore, I am going to answer that question for you as I see what’s in it for me at the NACAS South Annual Conference, May 4-9, Hyatt Regency, Austin, Texas.
Networking
As the NACAS slogan says, we are The Connections That Count. I love to meet with other NACAS South members, learn what they are doing on their campuses; study their best practices and just talk. It is such a pleasure to be around people who are doing the same things I am doing. We can problem solve or simply discuss issues. So many ideas are created, talking with like-minded, same-issue people.
Adding Certifications and Resume Enhancements
I enjoy seeing my resume fill with Auxiliary Services’ accomplishments. Whether it’s presenting at a NACAS educational session or adding the professional organizations line on my resume, it sets me apart from others in the industry. Something else that sets us apart from other Auxiliary Services professionals is the Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP).
NACAS has developed its certified program complete with appropriate examination. The CASP examination will be available at the NACAS South Annual Conference, Sunday, May 6, at the Hyatt Regency Austin (Texas).
Think you want to study a bit more before you take the exam?
Conference Sessions
Many of this year’s conference sessions will provide knowledge that will help with specific categories on the CASP. Attend the sessions and learn. Each appropriate session will have an “information for CASP” subtitle on the sessions.
Austin
This year’s conference is in Austin, Texas. Texas NACAS South members, show your support by attending the Austin Conference. Other members, take a look at Austin. www.AustinTexas.org
Do you know what almost everyone said to me when I told them we were going to Austin? They said, “I love Austin!”
You’ll love it too! Join us!
Sharing Knowledge
This year’s program looks to be one of our strongest educational programs to date. Joel Bishop--known for his enthusiasm, energy and humor--will kick-off the conference and share with us how to implement the principles of teamwork to drive employee engagement. Conference participants will receive copies of the book, "The Carrot Principle, which will be featured in Joel Bishop's keynote presentation. Plans are underway for numerous educational sessions covering a range of topics, including sessions on some of the "content areas" included in the CASP exam. All in all, there should be something at the conference for everyone’s knowledge and skill level.
Selling our Services
It wouldn’t be a NACAS Conference without at least one session on marketing our services and this year is no exception!
Open Discussions
This year we have added a roundtable discussion on “core” Auxiliary Services’ issues like contract management given by experienced NACAS South members. This session, scheduled for Sunday, will give newer Auxiliary Services professionals as well as “seasoned” professionals a platform to get back to the basics.
Upgrading
Upgrades and renovations are part of Auxiliary Services and we’ll have discussions on these. Upgrading also means, though, that each year we upgrade our program to make sure it holds members’ interest. Some things like the annual Bob DeMoss Golf Tournament have a few upgrades from year to year. Mark this event on your calendar for Saturday, May 5. You’ll want to arrive in Austin on Friday night to take full advantage of the golf tournament.
And another upgrade that we put in the program whenever we have the conference the first week of May – a Kentucky Derby Party – we’ll have a Derby Party this year too. And since Austin is on the Central Time Zone, the Derby Party will be at 5-ish!
Tours
We’ll be in the heart of Texas with many colleges and universities. Some NACAS South members will want to tour campuses on their own. Others will want to experience a guided tour with a group. At the writing of this article, we are planning a campus tour including a luncheon and pre-conference educational session – for no extra registration fee. Plan your trip to arrive in Austin Friday night and experience this exceptional program.
Hospitality
It’s the South! Need I say more? There will be lots of hospitality. Join us and see!
The astute reader will put the first letter of each of these subtopics together and spell: NACAS South!
See you in Austin, May 5-9, 2012!
NACAS South President
Host Committee Recruiting Members
January 2012
If you’re interested in assisting with the preparations and planning for the upcoming 2012 NACAS South Annual Conference to be held in Austin, Texas, become a member of the Host Committee! Opportunities to assist include planning the golf tournament and other special events, helping with on-site registration, and helping coordinate other logistics for the conference.
For more information contact Charlie Salas, Chair of the Host Committee.
Call for Nominations for Officers
January 2012
Want a great and rewarding experience? Interested in doing more for the auxiliary services profession? If so, consider serving NACAS South in a leadership position.
The NACAS South Nominating Committee, chaired by Immediate Past President Eric Monday, is officially calling for nominations for the 2012-2013 NACAS South Officers. The following positions are open for nomination:
-
President
-
President-Elect
-
Vice President
-
Secretary
-
Treasurer
-
Conference Coordinator
Please submit nominations to Eric Monday by Friday, February 24, 2012.
Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the NACAS South Business Meeting to be held Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at the NACAS South Annual Conference in Austin, Texas.
Thank you for your consideration.
Awards Nominations Being Accepted
January 2012
Do you know….
- An Up-and-Coming Auxiliary Services Professional?
- A NACAS colleague deserving of a Life Time Achievement Award?
- An Outstanding Collaboration / Partnership?
Recognize your NACAS South colleagues by submitting an award nomination today!
Click here for more information or contact Angela Peterson, Chair, NACAS South Awards Committee. The deadline for nominations is March 10, 2012.
National Board Update
December 2011
By Bill Redwine
Southern Regional Representative
WOW! That’s the easiest way to describe the 2011 Annual Conference in Orlando. A magnificent property with the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort provided a tremendous backdrop for an outstanding program of informative ed sessions and spectacular entertainment with the golf outing, the Texas Hold’em tournament and the closing event.
If you were with us in Orlando, then you know what I’m talking about in terms of the great programs and entertainment. The Host and Program Committees did a wonderful job preparing the facilities and selecting the very engaging presenters. If you didn’t have the opportunity to join us, then you don’t know what you missed.
I am pleased to report to you that your NACAS Board of Directors has been very busy both prior to and following the annual conference. The search process to find the next CEO is now in full swing. The search committee has recommended and the board approved the engagement of Spelman & Johnson Group to coordinate the process. Our timeline calls for a target end result of July 31 and the opportunity for the new CEO to meet with the Board of Directors during our Summer board meeting in Atlanta. One of the objectives of Spelman & Johnson is to be sure that we develop a broad, deep and diverse candidate pool. A more detailed announcement from Spelman & Johnson will be forthcoming.
From a financial standpoint, your association continues to be on solid ground. While the attendance in Orlando did not reach the level that we had hoped for, our business partner support was through the roof. A total of 202 exhibitors provided in excess of $100,000 in sponsorships. Because of our solid financial footing, we have been able to create a new position in the national office for membership and marketing. This position will work closely with the new Membership & Marketing committee that will be made up of members of the Membership Committee, the Marketing Committee and the Social Media Task Force.
Over the course of the past couple of years, we’ve spent a tremendous amount of time on the discussion and creation of a certification process. I am extremely pleased to report to you that the first Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP) exam was administered to 27 individuals. We feel that this is a tremendous accomplishment for the association and our thanks go to Dr. Jeff Pittman and Patti Eldred for seeing this through. Their committee has done an outstanding job moving this project along and the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) made it possible through their commitment of time and talent. Thanks to all!
In closing, I want to wish everyone a spectacular holiday season and give a huge shout-out to my good friend and dedicated member of the Southern Region, Keith Chapman, the new NACAS President. We’re proud of you Keith!
Thanks for your support and allowing me to represent you on the national board.
--Bill Redwine, Southern Representative
NACAS Board of Directors
Business Partner Update
December 2011
By Andy Meeks
NACAS South Vice President
I write this brief update hoping that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and looking forward to a successful Spring 2012 semester. As the NACAS South Conference is still a full four months away there is not a lot of front-line news I’m able to share. We would like to express our gratitude to our Business Partner community for your continued support and participation in the annual conference. As we move forward into 2012 you will begin getting information from me regarding the date, location, and business partner opportunities that will be offered for this year event to be held in Austin, Texas. We have recently returned from the Fall Board meeting in which we visited Austin. After visiting the hotel as well as many of the restaurants and other sights I believe you find Austin a fun and exciting location.
I will begin sending information out to our Business Partners in January for your review and consideration. Our hope is that you will review the information about the conference and conclude that having a presence at the NACAS South Conference will be a benefit to your organization. Annually we receive outstanding support from our business partners and hope that you will be able to join us in Austin. If you have questions or need additional information I can be reached at meeksa@nku.edu. I look forward to seeing everyone in May.
NACAS South Vice President
Professional Development Opportunities
December 2011
By Jean Ann Caywood
NACAS South Professional Development Coordinator
The NACAS Professional Development Committee provides a variety of educational opportunities for members including the Institute for Managers, Advanced Institute for Managers (coming up in March 2012 in San Diego), Senior Leadership Forum, virtual roundtables, webinars, and online short courses. The virtual roundtables and webinars are FREE, thanks to donations by our business partners Cardsmith and Bookrenter. A few of the topics from last year include Finances in Higher Education, Cost Cutting Measures, Identity Theft and Loss Profession, Lean Leadership, Business Plans, and Turbo Marketing. What topics are of interest to you? Submit your ideas to Martha Davidson, Chair of the Professional Development Committee .
In response to member requests, the Professional Development Committee has also been focusing on trends in the bookstore industry. In partnership with the National Association for College Stores (NACS,) a track on this topic was presented at the NACAS National Conference in Orlando in October. In addition, an article titled “Exploring the Path of Bookstore Trends” appears in the Winter 2011 issue of College Services (pages 16-22). The article features the operations, challenges, and successes of five college and university bookstores. We are especially interested in hearing how we can best help you with your bookstore challenges.
If you have questions or ideas about professional development contact Jean Ann Caywood or Martha Davidson.
NACAS South Captures Two National Awards at the NACAS Annual Conference
November 2011
Carole Gibson, Volunteer of the Year
Charlie Salas, Committee Member of the Year
With more than 2,400 Auxiliary Services professionals on its membership role, NACAS has many members from which to select annual recognition. This year, both the Volunteer of the Year and the Committee Member of the Year awards went to NACAS South members, respectively, Carole Gibson (Northern Kentucky University) and Charlie Salas (Texas State University, San Marco).
Volunteer of the Year – Carole Gibson
Anyone who has attended a NACAS South Annual
Conference during the past four years will have experienced Carole
Gibson’s extraordinary skills. She is the NACAS South Conference
Coordinator and she makes sure the conference runs smoothly and
efficiently. Carole makes it look easy but anyone who has worked on a
conference knows that that is not always the case.
One of her “above and beyond” qualities is her ability to research, analyze and recommend systems to increase productivity and effectiveness. She did this when she suggested the Cvent Online Event Management System. Cvent makes conference registration easier for members and provides data. It, however, can still be time intensive setting up and managing but Carole does it, as she does with most things, with an air of competence and expertise.
She works diligently with other committee and Board members to get the conference events and program completed in a timely manner, prodding when necessary to get all information as required, meeting deadlines.
A meticulous planner and organizer, Carole is dependent on other committee members and volunteers to confirm that the conference is successful and as her nomination form stated, “to ensure flawless meeting fulfillment.”
Carole also works with the site selection committee to determine locations for future conferences. She has a “must have” and “optional” list that she applies when visiting hotels, providing her recommendations based on conference needs.
And as quoted from her nomination, “Carole gets the job done; she instinctively recognizes problems before they materialize and fixes problems before they take root. She always has a smile on her face and does not let any complication or deadline reduce her sunny disposition. She is known for her attention to detail, creativity and communication skills.
“She makes ‘herculean’ efforts look easy.”
Carole Gibson is the 2011 NACAS Volunteer of the Year and a volunteer all should request to be part of their team.
Committee Member of the Year – Charlie Salas
To be considered as the NACAS Committee Member of
the Year, one must be a NACAS member who has demonstrated exceptional
work on a committee that supports the mission of NACAS. There is no one
better who falls within these criteria than Charlie Salas.
As a NACAS committee member, Charlie has specifically served on these committees:
Certification Task Force
Nominating Committee
Diversity Committee
Conference Chair – 2009 NACAS National Conference
Conference Host Committee Chair – 2005 NACAS National Conference
People attending NACAS Leadership Team Meetings and Annual Conferences will recognize Charlie as he tirelessly works to make sure everything goes according to plans.
In describing Charlie’s committee involvement, his award nomination gave four particular attributes:
#1 – Charlie is Genuine – Charlie’s compassion, energy and enthusiasm for everyone involved in NACAS is relentless. He works and leads with his heart and his ability to show genuine care and concern makes others want to follow him and model his behavior.
#2 – Charlie is Passionate – Charlie’s passion shines like a beacon for all to notice. Charlie is a great communicator and searches for new and innovative ways to promote NACAS.
#3 – Charlie is Consistent – People can count on Charlie working for NACAS with a positive, “can do” attitude which permeates throughout NACAS. Charlie is one of the rocks and the guiding forces behind this successful organization. It was Charlie’s “can do” attitude that kept the 2009 NACAS National Conference in Hawaii from crushing NACAS during weak economic times and strong restraints on travel.
#4 – Charlie does not fail – Charlie has never failed in his participation in NACAS Committees. On the contrary, he has shown and demonstrated success.
Charlie Figari, NACAS President 2008 and NACAS South President 2000, said of Charlie, “Charlie knows how to be stern and intractable when the situation calls for it, but that is not who he is. The end result is important to him but how one gets there is important as well and that is the rarest of leadership traits. It takes an excellent leader to make a committee successful and Charlie is that type of leader (and committee member).”
Vickie Somers Receives NACAS South Mentor Award
November 2011
Have you ever attended a NACAS or NACAS South
Annual Conference that Vickie Somers was not a mentor? Probably not. And
when mentors are needed does Vickie accept one first timer to mentor?
No. At the most recent NACAS Annual Conference in October, Vickie agreed
to mentor four first timers.
All this behavior is typical for Vickie Somers, Elon University, the 2011 NACAS South Mentor of the Year.
An annual Regional Mentor Award recognizes a member who has shown initiative in welcoming newcomers and promoting/encouraging involvement of members at the regional/national level.
How does Vickie compare to this description?
“It was Vickie who personally invited me to begin making presentations at our meetings and then eventually joining the general management of the regional association,” said Douglas S. Ross, Director of Auxiliary Services/Administrative Services, University of Georgia.
“She made me feel special and welcome as a rookie presenter and more so as a Board member. She has an astute, caring management style and displays personal attentive support for newbies and wallflowers. These make her an outstanding example of a mentoring success,” Ross added.
Jean Ann Caywood, Director of Auxiliary Services, Savannah State University, said that when she had only been attending NACAS South conferences for a couple of years she indicated she wanted to be more involved in the organization. Vickie was the NACAS South President at the time and contacted Jean Ann promptly, stating there was a position on a national committee and also as a coordinator on the NACAS South Board.
“I was intimidated at first because I was not sure I had been involved long enough to do a good job, but Vickie convinced me that my years’ experience in Auxiliary Services prior to my becoming active in NACAS would serve me well,” Caywood said.
Vickie’s award nomination stated, “Vickie is a welcoming person. People are drawn to her. She works hard to accomplish her assigned tasks. She also shows ingenuity, originality and cleverness in her approach to what she does whether it is welcoming new NACAS members, encouraging their involvement or promoting NACAS. She’s a leader and one who is just plain fun. She has a naturalness to welcoming. She’s friendly and it shows.”
Congratulations, Vickie! Thank you for everything you have done to help support NACAS and its members!
Like Us on Facebook!
By Monica Stoch
NACAS South Communications and Technology Coordinator
We hope you'll join this network of your colleagues and "Like" the NACAS South Facebook page! This is a great way to connect with the friends and colleagues you see at the NACAS and NACAS South conferences.
While you're visiting our Facebook page, check out the photos from the last four NACAS South annual conferences! You'll find dozens of photos from the 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 conferences in Destin, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Savannah.
Photo albums on the NACAS South Facebook page include:
- Business Partners
- Golf Tournaments
- Fun Runs
- Campus Tours
- Conference Sessions
- Special Events
- Sites from Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Savannah.
We hope you'll help us keep the Facebook page active and useful by sharing information, asking questions, or simply "connecting" with your colleagues! If you have any questions, please contact Monica Stoch, NACAS South Communications and Technology Coordinator. Hope to see you on Facebook!
Previous NACAS South Newsletters
- June 2011 eNewsletter
- February 2011 eNewsletter
- October 2010 eNewsletter
- April 2010 eNewsletter
- February 2010 eNewsletter
- April 2009 Newsletter