President's Message – March 2009

Potomac Wins 2009 Chapter of Excellence Award!

Congratulations! Our hard work transforming ourselves has been recognized by ISPI International. Potomac will receive the 2009 Chapter of Merit Award under the Awards of Excellence Program during the International Conference in April. Every one who has so generously contributed to our protracted, ongoing, successful efforts to transition deserves a great, big "Thank you!"

What have we accomplished? Tons! We have:

  • built and are developing our glorious new website
  • found new places to run programs with growing attendance
  • conducted outreach and membership campaigns
  • grown our membership from a low of 16 beyond 70 people
  • created new membership databases
  • constructed online registration and payment mechanisms
  • begun videotaping our monthly programs
  • added a mentoring program, job referral listing, HPT services offered, and a CPT directory
  • started a monthly column on praxis
  • introduced a blog on learning technology
  • gotten corporate sponsors
  • welcomed chairs in learning technology, web-based technology and academic liaison

 

Most of all, we've added wonderful board members whose dedicated efforts make all of this happen. So much has been accomplished!

Thank you to our past and current board members and dedicated volunteers, our Thought Leaders, our Strategic Planning Committee, our sponsors, and our terrific speakers. A partial list of players and contributors includes: Laura Anderson, Dale Brethower, Mark Boccia, Bill Bruck, Paul Cook, Dan Elbert, Paul Elliott, June Fair, Al Folsom, John Fox, Terry Goodwin, Jim Govoni, Susan Grunin, Joe Harless, Sandy Henderson, Jeffrey Jorney, Joyce Kozuch, Gaye Mara, Karen Medsker, Jeff Parks, Matt Peters, Rick Rummler, Lorene Sarne, and Molly Wankel. Every one of you made a difference to our Chapter. We thank you!

Remaining to be done is shaking out the final kinks, connecting, and streamlining. If you have even an hour per month, your help could make the difference between setting our chapter up for a success over the next four to five years or losing our momentum. Can you make a difference? Absolutely! To those who have worked so hard, please express your thanks. We almost lost Potomac. Even better, please come to a meeting or email us to let us know you can contribute just a little bit. Those are the bits that add up to keeping us strong!

Thank you again, to everyone who so amazingly jumped in to help. This award is for you!

Sarah Ward