ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q1-2024

ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVE

Scott Rhoad

W e are now well into the new year of 2024, and we are looking forward to what good things it may bring. From a personal perspective 2023 was a monumental year. Being sworn in as your president was definitely a highlight of my life. The following months traveling to various chapters and experienc ing the hospitality of chapter members and the beauty of each location I visited is something every member of this association should and could experience. As most of you know, our association has undergone sig nificant changes during 2023. Perhaps the biggest change in our association has been the transition to a new Executive Director. After a hiring search provided a pool of over 50 applicants that included a lot of very qualified individuals, the search committee and subsequently the National Board selected Jeff McCormick to lead this association. Jeff has hit the ground running and I look forward to his continued leadership during 2024. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the outstanding leadership and com mitment Deputy Executive Director Angela Weir showed during her time as acting executive director. This association was able to maintain our momentum moving forward under her leader ship. Thank you, Angie. The institution of the new Life Member designation for members who have achieved at least 25 years of member ship was finally brought to fruition in 2023. Identifying those members who have been dedicated to this association was an important step that was long overdue. But our most significant advancement of 2023 that will im pact the future of this association was perhaps the purchase and installation of a new database management system. This new system will assist the association as a whole. Not only will the National office see new opportunities and options, but chapters will also have new opportunities as well. Chapters will have new tools to communicate with their members and manage the shar ing of information more effectively. This new system will carry us well into the future. This association is in a very strong and stable position as we move into the future. As our Executive Director Jeff McCormick has been evaluating many of the benefits we provide to our members, the trainings we offer, the network we maintain, and the ability of our staff members to accomplish even more new tasks, I am reminded that behind every great organization is an exceptional staff to help accomplish the goals of the organiza tion. We have been very fortunate over the years to have great personnel working for us. As we all know from our personal and professional lives it is the ”behind the scenes” employees doing their jobs every day that truly makes the organization successful.

I am looking forward to 2024 as it brings new opportunities for this association as we continue to increase our biggest asset, our chapters. Chapters are the key to the success of this associa tion. Help our chapters grow and become even stronger net works of individual members by developing personal relation ships at the local level. If there are multiple national academy graduates in a department, each and every one of them should be members of their chapter. Communication and relationships at the local level are what assist us in our daily job duties. But when that “special” case comes around, it is the global network of this association that we can rely on. Make 2024 a special year by getting more involved in your chapter, giving back to your community, and renewing old friendships that have slipped away over the years. I look forward to seeing you at the 2024 National Annual Training Conference in Kansas City, Mo., July 20-23.

Joining you in Service,

Scott Rhoad FBINAA President FBINA 217

4 FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024