About UCEA

President's Letter

Have You Thanked Your UCEA Directory Lately?

It is generally acknowledged that volunteerism is critical to the success of organizations, especially non-profits, and community groups. Political campaigns, from the local Board of Education to national President, are built on the efforts of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of volunteers. In UCEA, we are flush with riches when it comes to talent. We have a dedicated, hard-working and superbly qualified staff running the Washington, D.C. office on our behalf. But this month, in the spirit of the American holiday of Thanksgiving, I would like to focus on the unsung heroes within our Association, the hundreds of volunteers who help to keep the business of the Association going, advance our profession and support colleagues through a network of meetings and professional development offerings.

We, literally, have hundreds of individuals involved at the regional and national levels in a wide variety of volunteer efforts within UCEA that are all dedicated in some way to the advancement of our profession and to the professional development of colleagues. Take a look at the front section of the UCEA Membership Directory. At the Regional level, we have a variety of regional officers and various volunteer committees that help promote UCEA membership regionally, develop the regional conference, and create other regional professional development programs.

At the national level, there are likewise officers and a Board of Directors, a Regional Cabinet that brings together leadership from all of the regions, numerous national level committees, including the heavy-lifting national Conference Program Planning Committee. But wait, there’s more. We have a wonderful, albeit somewhat complex, structure of Commissions and Communities of Practice that are cross-disciplinary and help to focus member activities and professional development opportunities. Meeting commitments and responsibilities vary widely, but all active members contribute time and talent in some way and, in the end, our Association, our profession, and our home institutions all benefit.

So, yes, on the one hand this could be considered a puff piece to say thank you. But it is no less sincere or heartfelt. And, more importantly, I hope that it reinforces how vital our network of volunteers truly is. To our newer professional members: I urge you to take a close look at the many opportunities to be involved, to move into regional and national leadership positions. I hope you will speak to colleagues about how and where you can get more engaged. I suggest that you will quickly learn what others have experienced: giving a little gets much.

In anticipation of our upcoming marketing seminar and to steal a page from current media parlance, consider this:

The cost of institutional membership in UCEA,
     —Hundreds of dollars.
The cost of professional membership in UCEA,
     —Tens of dollars.
The value of being involved in UCEA,
     —Priceless!

The value of being involved may be priceless, but the need to have more and new folks involved is constant. UCEA is always seeking to involve new talent. There is an Irish proverb that says “Nodding the head does not row the boat.” This certainly seems appropriate as we consider the hundreds of volunteers who have their oars in the water. To those standing at the water’s edge, I say there are opportunities aplenty to pick up an oar and join in the fun. It’s not fattening and you might enjoy it.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you—to all of you who are involved. To all of the regional and national officers, members of the board, executive committees and various association committees—thank you. To all of the regional committee members – thank you. To all of the Commissioners—thank you. For your time, dedication and leadership, for helping to make UCEA all that it is today and can be tomorrow, for thinking about others and for thinking globally—thank you.