Fellow Members: 

Once again, it is time to further your professional experience with the Akron Chapter. As the 2009 - 2010 year begins, the rich tradition of education, networking, and certification continues. The goal of this year's Board hopes to expand your growth in ways which are both challenging and rewarding.  The role of serving as your President is not only an honor, but a privilege. The position is not possible without an outstanding Board. I encourage you to express your ideas, thoughts, and challenges to the Board.  Any Board meeting is open to all members for your participation. 

We will continue to meet at Tangier’s Restaurant, for the Dinner Meetings, the Pre-Tech before dinner, and Technical meetings afterward. Your Board has slated an outstanding roster of topics, with extraordinary speakers for those topics. The topics are relevant in today's environment and very informative. In December, we will again be delivering a Professional Development Seminar which will help you further your professional development.

 I challenge each of you to study for a portion of the CMA certification. Certification is not only a worthy accomplishment, but a valuable one as well. Certified Professionals are highly valued members of their organizations, and the personal development is something worthwhile. Again, we will be offering classes at the University of Akron; we also have materials available for self study. 

Seeing each of you is always a cherished event. We have additional opportunities, outside of the monthly meetings to network. In January, we will be with ASWA for a joint meeting for outside networking. The golf outing in May has been a great event, and your participation is needed. The golf outing is again for the benefit of students. The proceeds will be going to the students, but the intangible benefits are solely yours.

 Your participation makes the learning a pleasant experience. This year, the Board is offering a bounty on new members. We hope you will cash in on this, allowing the tradition we have to continue into the future.

It is an honor and privilege,

Douglas R. Rinearson

President