by Greetings SoACE Members! I hope this message finds you confidently going forth into a time of year that for many is the peak activity season. Even though you are likely very busy, I hope you take a minute to read about a few exciting things that are happening with your favorite regional association.
L.I.V.E. from Memphis. Our conference committee is hard at work preparing an event that will help you Lead, InnoVate, and Educate. While all SoACE conferences are events to be remembered, this year’s conference is looking to be one you will not want to miss, for so many reasons: The Peabody Hotel, the Peabody Ducks, Graceland, and not to mention another excellent round of breakouts, 5@5s, roundtables, and networking opportunities. Be sure to register before the early bird cutoff of October 7th!
St. Jude Heroes. We are also really excited about our philanthropy this year, which is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Our fundraising team of #TeamSoACE St. Jude Heroes have committed to participating in one of the races associated with the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, which will take place the Saturday before the conference begins. Click here to help us reach our fundraising goal of $10,000! If we reach our goal, you’ll get to see our very own Sponsorship Chair, Chris Agans, dress up as Elvis during the conference, so donate today! It’s also not too late to join the team; just email me if you are interested.
Membership Engagement. During our July meeting, the Board discussed our current processes for recruiting, developing, and recognizing those members who fill our 80 committee and knowledge group positions. A task force was appointed to investigate ways to streamline these processes and find solutions that will further strengthen our organization. The success of our association relies heavily on these individuals, so THANK YOU to all who volunteer your time and effort for SoACE. More to come!
SoACE is strong today for many reasons, not the least of which is its outstanding membership. I am so proud to be a part of SoACE because of YOU, and I look forward to where we will go from here, together.
Charlie Wilder, Ph.D.
2019-20 SoACE President
Auburn University
