Executive board meeting - day 1

The SWATA Executive Board started the SWATA meeting today and went to lunch over at the NATA office. Each district provides lunch for the NATA office staff once a year and SWATA traditionally buys lunch in July. Board members already in the area for SWATA are invited to attend this lunch and socialize with the NATA staff. NATA Executive Director, Eve Becker-Doyle started the lunch off with introductions and a brief overview of each staff members duties. SWATA President, Mike Carroll spoke for the SWATA board and thanked the NATA staff for all thier hard work throughout the year for NATA and SWATA. The staff is invaluable to our mission and are the face of the NATA. THANKS to everyone at the NATA office from the SWATA executive board.

The Finance Committee had the first official SWATA meeting starting at 2pm and lasting until 5pm. There was lively discussion regarding the finances in these difficult times, but a balanced budget was presented at the end of the meeting. The committee members work diligently to protect our money for the organization and are working for the best interests of the SWATA and it's members. Committee members include: Jeff Bass, David Traylor, Chris Hall, Dan O'Connor, Lorna Strong, TC Shelton, and Sam Coward. This committee works closely with Joan Hodges of the accounting firm, McIntyre, Zeigler & Hodges. This firm has worked with SWATA for many years and a SWATA scholarship is named after J. Brooks McIntyre, a founding partner of the firm.

The first full executive board meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mike Carroll. The entire board was in attendance and Ken Cole also attended to listen to the discussion before joining the board on Saturday as Arkansas Representative. Welcome Ken! The first order of businees was to approve the minutes of the Mid-Winter board meeting from February in El Paso. The remainder of the meeting focused on the finance committee report with Joan Hodges presenting the finances for the first 9 months of the current budget year and the projected budget for next year.

Tomorrow the board meetings starts bright and early at 7am in the Wimbledon room. The board will take a break to attend the golf tournament in the late morning and return to the meeting at 12:30. The golf tournament is being held at the Chester W. Ditto golf course in Arlington. Check in begins at 9am with Al Wilson and his family members taking care of the organization of the tournament. Al and Andy Wilson always have a great tournament and everyone has a good time.

Attention Committee Chairs - the chairs meeting is tomorrow at 4pm at the Arlington Convention Center, Room M1.

Pre-registration packet pickup reception in the Exhibit Hall, Arlington Convention Center from 5-7pm.

Mitzi Laughlin
SWATA Incoming Vice President