Michael Griest
OCPA President
Coordinator for Student Activities
Urbana University
I write this president’s pen shortly after watching the Urbana University Class of 2009 walk across the stage at commencement. As we shift gears toward summer projects, quiet buildings and shorter work days here on our campus, we also must pause to evaluate the year that has just passed. Remember that list of goals for the year you completed in August? The OCPA Executive Board is reaching the end of its 2008-2009 term as well, and certainly haven’t forgotten the list of goals that we set forth back in August.
One of our major goals for this past year was to increase membership in our organization. Our initial goal was to increase our membership 225 members by August of 2009. I am happy to announce that we have surpassed that number and we are still growing. Our outreach efforts as well as follow up by the membership team have really paid off. Now, we set our goals on diversifying the membership, recruiting senior student affairs officers and reaching out to under represented institutions.
OCPA is moving forward, and we know there is much more work to do. As the start of the next year approaches, we look toward the goals that remain unfulfilled. Plans are already in place to improve communication with our membership. We also plan to offer more online tools and updated forms for renewing your membership and our professional development activities. I am personally making it my goals to improve an already excellent annual conference. With budgets tight across the state, we know that a quality, affordable conference has become even more important to our members.
Time and pressure can create stress for a person or an organization, but it is also what turns carbon into diamonds. The OCPA Board continues to work hard to make this organization the premier source of professional development in the state. We hope that you agree! |
