"VISION begets VISION"

I invite you to read the keynote speeches in this document that were given by our presidential leadership at ERAPPA's 58^th Annual Conference.  Our presidential leadership has cast vision - connecting ERAPPA 2008 to ERAPPA 2009.  Their casting of vision will stir thinking in others, create avenues that lead to accomplishment of the vision, and create additional vision leading to further success.

For me, one of the most important focal points of any conference is its theme.  That's why I am "keying" in on what Past President Willy Suter and President Keith Woodward spoke of in their keynote speeches. 

The theme can set the tone for the entire conference.  Therefore, the theme needs to be cast and discussed in communications, and where possible, worked into the education.  For conferences I have attended, some themes have been explained very well, and some eplaing very little.  For themes that were cast well, I vividly remember the conferences.  For themes that were not cast well, I remember less from the conferences.  This is because when attending a conference, I focus on what the conference planners are saying about the theme and how it applies to us and our work.

The themes of recent and out-year conferences are as follows:

ERAPPA 2002 in St. John's................................ "Living On The Edge"

ERAPPA 2003 in Philadelphia............................. "We The People...edu"

ERAPPA 2004 in Syracuse ................................ "Changing Times; Enduring Values"

ERAPPA 2005 in Atlantic City ........................... "Transformations...Riding A New Wave"

ERAPPA 2006 in Mystic..................................... "Preserve The Past, Chart The Future"

ERAPPA 2007 in Ottawa.................................... "Capital Ideas For Sustainable Improvements"

ERAPPA 2008 in Baltimore................................. "ERAPPA 2008, Your Key to Success"

ERAPPA 2009 In Portland.................................. "imagine"

ERAPPA 2010 In Pittsburgh................................ "60 Years Of Forging The Future"

What do you remember from the above conferences?  St' John's was literally on the edge of the continent, being the further most point of land to the east.  Philadelphia was literally in the heart of how we the people were established as a country.  Syracuse made one think of appropriate change and how our beneficial values will help us to endure.  In Atlantic City, I attended an educational session that was directly tied to the theme of transformations.  Mystic made me think about where I have been and where I am going.  In Ottawa, the theme of sustainability was saturated throughout the conference.  Ottawa surely made me think of being sustainable, in technical work and in leadership.  Baltimore made me think of ways to be successful.  And now, going to Portland, I can only imagine what great things are going to happen that are going to lead me to higher plateaus.  And then, we will forge ahead to Pittsburgh and the futre.

So, the ERAPPA 2009 THEME....."imagine" ......CAST THAT VISION....then imagine what will happen.  REMEMBER...YOUR CASTING OF VISION BEGETS VISION IN OTHERS.

Sincerely,

Jim Barbush
Past PRESIDENT WILLY SUTER

"from ERAPPA 2008 to ERAPPA 2009"

"from ERAPPA 2008, Your Key To Success to imagine"

The theme of this meeting has grown on me.   This is not the first time I have taken a seemingly simple idea and explored it to what might be considered an illogical degree.

First there is Francis Scott Key who had attempted to negotiate a non-violent resolution with the British and when this effort failed was held prisoner on a British Ship and had to watch his countrymen be bombarded from the British fleet. 

Can you imagine how helpless he felt and how moved he must have been to see the star spangled banner? 

Upon reflection I realize that I have had to watch colleagues struggle and not be able to help because I was a prisoner of schedule or resources or lack of knowledge or access.

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you avoid or deal with situations like this.

When thinking about the concept of a key I thought about the thing I use to open a door and the idea of gaining access from one place to another;

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you do that!

Next I visited the idea of the key stone.  The key stone has been a fundamental structural element carrying the forces of gravity around arched openings for thousands of years.  Many of you have iconic arches in historical buildings and so you know how the image transcends the engineering.  Linking this to the theme of our meeting creates the concept of the key as that thing upon which the rest of the organization depends for stability. 

If this key stone is you, you need to understand your role, be a well informed and experienced and understand how what you do impacts the rest of the structure.

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you do that!

Next I visited the idea of the key as an arrangement of musical notes.  No one key is any better than another and the key plays a different role in different types of music.  The selection of the key, the capability of the instruments, and the skill and talent of the musicians to play in the same or a complimentary key is critical to the success of the group. 

If you are the person who takes all this into account;

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you do that!

Next I went to a related example of keys on a piano. 

Being able to read the score and select the right individual key and the right grouping of keys translates the score on paper into the music we listen to and music can inspire incredible things. 

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you do that!

Next I looked at the key as the thing that ties and aligns a pulley and shaft.  In this role the key assures that the work of the shaft is efficiently transferred to the pulley. 

You as the Key in this example, deal with the interaction of work groups and the processes they use to achieve their goals.

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you do that!

A map key enables us to know the meaning of symbols on a map and turn a map from a representation of geography into a tool.  This tool helps us get from one place to another and to know what to expect on the way. 

You as the key in this example means that you use vision and metrics to help people know where they are and where they are going.

Imagine how ERAPPA can help you do that!

These are meaningful analogies for me and yes; I think like this all of the time.  The ultimate lesson for me is that we are each other's keys to success and by extension so is ERAPPA.

I encourage you to look for ways to be each other's key to success: 

help each other,

learn from each other, and

aspire to leadership positions in ERAPPA.  Y

ou can make a difference.

This 2007 - 2008 ERAPPA Board is a special group.  Along with the accomplishments I listed in my message in ERAPPA's 2008 Report To Membership; this year the Board created and integrated a new board position into routine board operations, replaced a Board Member mid-term, and took up the slack when I was not able to devote as much time to my duties as intended.

The day I spoke with Keith and Glenn about the possibility of not being able to complete my term as ERAPPA's President I experienced the Key to ERAPPA's 58 year success story.   While I was having trouble meeting the challenges as your President, your Board, my colleagues at AU, and my wife all stepped up in many ways.   Due to the adjustments made by these people, ERAPPA leadership was not compromised. 

I have been honored to serve as your President and in this time of transition from one ERAPPA Leadership Team to another and as we look forward to the upcoming meeting in Portland, I encourage you to pick up on the theme of that meeting and Imagine what we can become if we take full advantage of the keys to success ERAPPA represents.

Thank you

PRESIDENT KEITH WOODWARD

"from ERAPPA 2008 to ERAPPA 2009"

"from ERAPPA 2008, Your Key To Success to imagine"

Willy before you leave the stage, let me, on behalf of the entire organization say thank you for years of service and specifically this last years as PRESIDENT.  What many in this room already know, is you have been a dedicated to ERAPPA for many years and those of us who sit in meetings with you are THANKFUL we had the opportunity to serve under your tremendous leadership.  Tonight on behalf of the membership we have a small token of our appreciation for you outstanding service to ERAPPA.

Baltimore (Kevin and Sherri and the Host Committee), you have been fantastic hosts and deserve great praise for this wonderful Annual Meeting.

I am well aware that my voice is the only thing between the salad fork and your stomach, so I will move my comments along.  More than a few of you have asked me "what am I going to do as President." 

I am going to try to continue

to steer the ERAPPA ship in the same positive direction of the men and women before me. 

This year I am going to focus on membership and I am going to ask for your help.

But before I ask, I would like you briefly tell you about three people.  These three people aptly fit the theme for the 2009 Annual Meeting

•1.       It was on this day EXACTLY 46 years ago, after twice being denied entry into the University of Mississippi that James Meredith matriculated as the first black student, defying segregation.  His entry and then graduation from Mississippi was a turning point in the American civil rights movement.  Why?  Because James Meredith could imagine.

•2.       Perhaps one of the great imaginers of all time was Walt Disney and it was 37 years ago on exactly this day that Walt Disney World Resort opened in the sleeply town of Orlando, Florida.  A small group of Disney studio employees joined the Disneyland development project as engineers and planners, and were dubbed IMAGINEERS.

•3.       And as we bring things back to the ERAPPA location for the 59^th Annual Meeting, Portland is the birthplace of the great American imaginers, author, novelist, and director Steven King.  His imagination... well... it's scary.

Those imaginers took the next step and became active and were DO-ERS

I would like you be an ERAPPA DO-ER in 2009.

I would like you to imagine a stronger, more vibrant, and healthier ERAPPA.  

That is not to imply that we are weak in sick, because we aren't.  

But we need to engage new people at our institutions in ERAPPA.

So what does that mean.

I ask you to     save a few shekels from your dwindling budget. (Good News the market was up almost 500 points today ).  I know budgets are tight, I know the economy is bad, I know the dollar is weak, I know travel might be restricted at your institution.  I know it's hard, but harder than what James Meridith had to do in Mississippi?

I ask you to     identify someone at your institution who shows potential and shows creativity and is ready to grow. Perhaps a young Walt Disney.

I ask you to     identify someone with many talents.  But not as scary a Stephen King.

Engage            your James, Walt, or Stephen in ERAPPA bring them to Portland in October. 

I ask you to     mentor this person in ERAPPA.

As part of the ERAPPA leadership team, I realize

we have to continue to make ourselves attractive to these new faces.

As Gordon Cheesman mentioned this afternoon, at ERAPPA 2009 we are going to offer APPA's Supervisor's Toolkit and become the first region to offer the EFP Exam and Prep Course at a Regional Meeting.  

My hope is you will see that as an opportunity to bring involve new faces.  

Details and specifics on these programs will come in the months ahead.  

But I encourage you to start talking to them now.  Because membership matters.

On a personal note.....

I want to thank all the people who have contributed to my ERAPPA experience along the way leading to tonight.

I have a fantastic staff at Quinnipiac, starting with my boss (Joe) who has been a tremendous mentor to me.  There are so many people at Quinnipiac that foster a sense of community. 

To my colleagues in my home chapter of SNEAPPA, Joe, Terry, Neal, John, Roy, Norm, Chris, the Scialabba's, Mrs. R, the Hill's, Cynthia, and others I may have forgotten to mention, thanks for your continued support.

Although they couldn't be here tonight... I want to may say thank you to wife Karen and our kids, Tyler, Ashley, Alyssa, Allyson, and Cooper. I can NOT imagine my life without them, but they are my everyday Disney and occasional Steven King...

And lastly, (get those salad forks ready, Glenn get ready for the blessing).  

If I can borrow a phrase from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who was born and raised in Portland and whose house is listed on the National Registery of Historic Places and is  a block away from where we will be staying a year from today.

"One if by land, and two if by sea, three if by air; and I on the ERAPPA shore will be, ready to ride and spread the news through every Facilities Department from Halifax to Ottawa to Pittsburgh to Washinton, D.C. of your arrival to Portland.... Down by the Harbour.... "

Thank you very much everyone.  

I am honored and look forward to a fantastic year as your President