The 2012 Annual Conference in Ashland marks the 50^th anniversary conference for NWACUHO.  At this exciting time, the Association is seeking a NWACUHO member who would like to serve as a Historian to document the first 50 years.

We seek a collaborative partner who will work with us to help define the outcomes of this process.  Initial thoughts include (but are not limited to):

• Creation of a brief celebratory video presentation for the 2012 Annual Conference.
• Collection of oral histories from past officers of NWACUHO, many who will be in attendance at the 2012 annual conference.
• Recreation, organization, and documentation of the Association’s history through the collection and review of existing documentation, interviews, and your creative detective work.

It is intended that this position serve from January – December, 2012, however, the role is outcome driven so the time duration and commitment is negotiable.  In return for your commitment, NWACUHO will cover the Historian’s registration, travel, and lodging expenses for the 2012 Annual Conference in Ashland as well as other mutually-agreed upon expenses to ensure success of the project.

This role is a great opportunity for a professional in our region, regardless of experience level or functional area.  It presents an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on NWACUHO, interact with pillars in the housing profession, and have a good time doing so.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please email a 1-page letter of interest and a copy of your current resume to Josh Gana, Past President, at jgana@uw.edu by December 9, 2011.  Don’t hesitate to email Josh if you need more information.

This is an exciting time to be part of the NWACUHO Board of Directors – the 50^th anniversary annual conference, a new strategic plan, and a refocus on the purpose of the Association.

There are five positions open on the NWACUHO Board of Directors.  Becoming a board member is an excellent opportunity for anyone that is looking to expand upon his or her professional roles and fantastic way to give to the region. Nominees for positions on the Board of Directors must be employed at a member institution, have demonstrated a commitment to the mission and purposes of Northwest Association of College and University Housing Officers, have the fiscal support of their host institution, and must have expertise in areas relevant to the needs of the organization.

Positions take office at the annual conference in February 2012.  Some of the specific responsibilities are listed below.  For more information, contact one of the current Board members, review the NWACUHO By-Laws on our website, or get in touch with Past President Josh Gana at jgana@uw.edu or 206.685.8790.

Meeting Information:

• The Board of Directors meets 3 times a year, typically in February, May, and October.
  • Meetings begin on the first evening at 6 p.m. for group time and dinner, with meetings all the following day, and departure time around noon on the third day. There is a meeting tied to the annual conference and for this meeting we start on Friday night, meet most of the day Saturday
  • Dinner costs are covered during the meetings and lunch on the full meeting day is also covered, other meals are considered “on your own.”
  • Flights and or other modes of transportation are taken care of by each individual and their home institutions. For members who are having difficulty covering the cost due to issues around budgets, the board may be able to assist in funding costs of travel.
  • Hotel is covered during the fall and spring meeting, but during the conference it is up to institutions to cover your hotel costs.
  • Agendas are developed by the president, with input from ALL members of the board and sent out prior to the meeting.

For the coming year (2012-2013) the following positions are available:

President Elect (1 year term, 3 year commitment, elected)

The President-Elect is a one year term position on a three year track towards providing primary leadership for the association. As President-Elect, the incumbent is primarily responsible for the conference program and working with the host committee on the development of the year’s conference. Additionally, the President-Elect represents NWACUHO at the annual ACUHO-I Conference.

The President-Elect transitions to become the Association President in his/her second year of service with the Executive Board, and then Past-President in his/her third year. The position is elected by the association’s membership.

Secretary (2-year term, elected)

The Secretary is a 2-year position that serves as the official record-keeper of the Association.  This role records and distributes minutes from all Board meetings, archives documentation, and coordinates the membership directory information.  Additionally, the Secretary serves as an adviser to conference publications and communications.

Products and Services Coordinator (2-year term, elected)

The Products and Services Coordinator is a 2-year position that serves as the liaison between corporate members, exhibitors, and NWACUHO.  This position coordinates the exhibition portion of the annual conference, recruits and maintains communication with exhibitors, and implements the corporate membership program.

British Columbia Provincial and Washington State Representative (2 year term, appointed)

The State & Provincial Representatives act as a liaison to members in their respective state or province, and work to represent the concerns and voice of the association’s membership.  Representatives also work closely with the President Elect on the annual conference program. The positions are appointed by the Board for a 2-year term.

If you are interested in any of the above positions, or in nominating a colleague for one of these opportunities, please submit the following to jgana@uw.edu by December 9, 2011:

• A one page nomination statement and summary of experience for distribution to the association’s membership.
  • A letter of support of your involvement from your institution’s Chief Housing Officer or immediate supervisor.

It is my pleasure to welcome you as a new professional to NWACUHO!  We are thrilled for you to be joining us.  NWACUHO is made up of individuals and institutions from the Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon, and the American states of Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. Whether you are a brand new professional in residence life and housing or a seasoned veteran who has recently come to call the Northwest your home, NWACUHO has much to offer you.  NWACUHO exists to meet the needs of its diverse membership by providing services and opportunities for professional development and collegial fellowship. We hope that you find your transition to the Northwest welcoming and meaningful.  The core purposes of NWACUHO are to promote best practices, foster professional development, collaborate and share ideas, and focus on future trends.  We take these ideals very seriously and are committed to assisting you in becoming the strongest professional that you can be.

As you begin your professional journey in the Northwest, there is a wealth of information and resources on the NWACUHO website, which includes the NWACUHO New Member Handbook.  Please take some time to peruse and explore the NWACUHO website at http://nwacuho.org.

We encourage, support and welcome your involvement in our region, and there is a wide variety of ways to get involved.  Besides the annual conference, NWACUHO provides four active taskforces, a quarterly newsletter, monthly webinars, and regional drive-in conferences.  All of these opportunities are an excellent means to network with colleagues and advance your professional development.  Each state, province and territory has a designated representative and we encourage you to contact your representative for more information.  I encourage you to take advantage of everything NWACUHO has to offer.

You are heavily supported in getting involved early in NWACUHO, and it is never too early to look into ways to get involved.  We look forward to you joining our team of colleagues and assisting in your development as a professional staff member.  Please don’t hesitate to contact anyone on the NWACUHO Board should you want to become more involved or have ideas as to how the Association can serve you better.

Sincerely,

Steve Fitterer

President, NWACUHO

Jeff Bondy, President Elect of AIMHO, and I started discussing the possibility of a joint conference in 2012, perhaps in Spokane? We’d then look at Denver in 2017. What do you think?

-Josh Gana, President-Elect