Summer 2010 Executive Board meeting

Welcome to the SWATA Executive Board blog for the summer 2010 meeting. This blog will be updated a couple times a day throughout the SWATA meeting to give some details about the workings of the board. If you are interested in a leadership position, this is a good place to start learning about your organization and to get involved.

First off, the SWATA Executive Board consists of 7 voting members and 4 non-voting members.

Voting positions:

• President – Mike Carroll
• Vice President – David Traylor
• Second Vice President – Chris Hall
• Past President – Dan O'Connor
• National Director – Brian Conway
• Arkansas Representative – Doin Dahlke
• Texas Representative – Mike Pace

Non-voting positions:

• District Secretary – Lorna Strong (position will transfer to a voting position in 2011)
• District Treasurer – Jeff Bass
• Recording Secretary – Loree McCary
• Parliamentarian – Natalie Steadman

Each board member has specific duties, but as a whole the board is responsible to the membership to:

• Promote and safeguard the Purpose of the SWATA.
• Provide proper financial oversight. Approve the annual budget. Ensure that proper financial controls are in place. The board is ultimately responsible to the membership for the finances of the SWATA.
• Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability to the SWATA membership.
• Ensure effective organizational planning to effectively operate the SWATA.
• Determine, monitor and strengthen the organization's programs and member services.

SWATA President, Mike Carroll sent out the board notebook last week and everyone has been reviewing the board and committee reports. On first glance the notebook is huge, but it reflects the tremendous amount of work our committees accomplish. Due to time limitations, not every committee chair presents at the board meeting. Rather committee chairs submit a written report that details the work that has been accomplished by the committee for the year. This report is mainly informational for the board members but there is an "Action Items" section for any requests for board action, such as additional members from the volunteer list, budget requests, etc.

If you want to see an executive board meeting in person, come on by because all meetings are open to the public. The meeting times for the board are Tuesday evening 7 pm - 8:30 pm, Wednesday all day beginning at 7:30 am, and Saturday afternoon at 1 pm. This is in addition to the SWATA board meeting that will conclude this year's symposium which will be held Saturday morning. All EB meetings (except Saturday morning's meeting in the lecture hall) will be held in the Wimbledon room at the Arlington Sheraton.

See you in Arlington!

Mitzi Laughlin

SWATA incoming Vice President