March
- April Message
District
6 Members,
As
you read this message, spring has sprung with flowers and
new District activities are blossoming. In this edition of
the WesternITE, the Midyear Board meeting will be highlighted
as well as new programs for the District.
The
Western District Board meeting was held in Denver at the end
of January and attended by District officers, international
directors, committee chairs, and Section and Chapter leaders.
I would like to wish the best of luck to our candidates for
International Director and Secretary-Treasurer and thank them
for their continued commitment and participation in the District.
I would like to encourage you to take the opportunity to get
to know each candidate and take the time to vote in the election.
As
I mentioned in my last couple of messages, it is one of my
top priorities to reach out to young professionals and potential
new members. A new Employer Recognition Award has been developed
by Craig Grandstrom, District Career Guidance Committee Chair,
to recognize employers for support of young professional involvement
in ITE Activities (young professional is defined as an ITE
member, 35 years of age or younger). Young Professional enthusiasm,
meaningful involvement, and growth are the keys to ITE's future.
As a means of fostering individual Young Professional participation
in Society activities, ITE Western District has developed
a program to help Sections and Chapters recognize those employers
who encourage their Young Professionals to get involved.
During
the meeting, a proposal to distribute the WesternITE newsletter
electronically was discussed. The WesternITE committee, which
includes Nate Larson (WesternITE Advertising Coordinator),
Doug Smith (WesternITE Editor), Jon Pascal (WesternITE Web
Manager), Monica Suter (Vice President), and Randy McCourt
(International Director), will be developing a plan for electronic
distribution to be presented at the Annual Meeting in Anaheim.
If you have comments regarding electronic distribution of
the WesternITE, then please contact anyone on the WesternITE
committee or me.
The
District Endowment Fund committee, chaired by Cathy Leong,
also met in Denver for a workshop during the Midyear Board
meeting. The Endowment Fund committee has developed a new
logo. An endowment fund website with online donation capabilities
is being created. During the workshop, the committee brainstormed
fundraising ideas for the Annual Meeting and throughout the
year. The committee discussed ideas to appropriately recognize
Section supporters, members, and sponsors of the Endowment
Fund. Again, I want to thank the membership, individuals,
Sections and Chapters, and corporate sponsors for your generous
donations to our growing District Endowment Fund.
I
would like to continue to take the opportunity to recognize
ITE members for their distinguished service to ITE and the
industry. Many thanks to the Southern Arizona Chapter for
hosting me in Tucson in February. It was my pleasure to recognize
Diahn Swartz with a Presidential Proclamation for her distinguished
service and contributions to ITE. Diahn is a Past President
of the Southern Arizona Chapter of ITE and she led the development
of chapter bylaws during her presidency. She is currently
the Chapter's training chair and prepares the Chapter certificates
and awards.
I
would also like to thank the Montana Chapter for hosting me
at the Montana Spring Engineering Festival and ITE Chapter
meeting. At the Chapter meeting, I had an opportunity to install
their new officers. It was my pleasure to recognize Terry
Smith with a Presidential Proclamation for his distinguished
service and contributions to ITE. Terry is a Past President
of the Intermountain Section and Past President of the Montana
Chapter of ITE. Terry is a founding member of the Montana
Chapter and was instrumental in writing the by-laws and constructing
the charter as well. He served as Co-Chair of the LAC for
the 2005 District Annual Meeting in Kalispell. After the Montana
Chapter meeting, the members went to the Montana State University
versus Portland State University basketball game which was
a great opportunity to network with members and have fun.
It
is now time to mark your calendars and begin planning for
the 2008 District Annual Meeting (joint with International)
in Anaheim from August 17-20, 2008.
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