Message from ACCA's President

Dear ACCA Members, Supporters, and Colleagues

The success of the ACCA’s 25th annual National Training Institute (NTI) was due in large part to the hard work of the 2011 Host Committee. The current Board of Directors played a pivotal role during the Minnesota State government shutdown by stepping up to the plate and building on the work initiated by the 2011 Host Committee. Orlanda Klinkhammer, the co-chair of the 2011 NTI Host Committee, demonstrated her leadership and passion for ACCA by jumping back into the planning process without skipping a beat once the Minnesota State government shutdown ended. The revenue generated by the Minnesota NTI allowed the organization to retire incurred debt and start 2012 with an operating budget that is on track to reinforce the organization’s infrastructure.

There are several exciting activities in process as this newsletter goes to print. Below represents a small fraction of the completed, current or planned activities for 2012:

• Justin Talbot-Stern is leading the ACCA membership committee to revamp our membership database and update our website.
• Michael Martin and Colette Holt led the project to revise and update the organization’s by-laws.
• Bessie Papailias has initiated a more efficient process to ensure tax filings stay current and is working with a Certified Public Accounting firm to conduct a financial audit of the past 3 years.
• Candace Waterman is exploring an on-line product that will enhance the educational opportunities ACCA provides to public organizations and private sector firms.
• Jan Lawson is working with me to develop more efficient nomination and election processes for open positions for our Board of Directors.
• Greg Jennifer is leading the charge of redesigning the annual “Think Tank” into a robust “Executive Leadership Institute”.
• Lisa Alexander is working with Lynn Newsome and our Philadelphia colleagues in developing a dynamic 2012 NTI.
• The Executive Committee is looking to develop new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships with other non-profits with similar goals and objective as adopted by ACCA.

While it may seem that we have an ambitious organizational 2012 work plan, I can attest that the committed members of the Board of Directors are more than capable of taking on this work with a focused and deliberate approach. Those of you with the time, expertise and skills to assist us should consider helping move the organization forward by volunteering for these and other efforts that satisfy your interests.

See you in Philadelphia!!
Jerry Walker, MCA
President – ACCA Board of Directors