President's Message - September 2011

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As you read this, we are at the annual conference in Phoenix, Ariz. This year’s gathering has been one of high energy and inspiration. Congratulations to our annual conference committee, under the leadership of Nancy Dinon, for their vision and hard work in making this year’s lineup one of the best ever, if not the finest! The ASHHRA staff is in conference mode and working in high gear, as they always do, to make our conference highly successful. I thank them for their amazing efforts.

For me this great conference will be bittersweet. Most past presidents will tell you that the completion of the annual conference duties signal the end of major presidential responsibilities for the year! However, when you agree to do the ASHHRA president path, you sign on for three years, one as president-elect and vice president, one year as president, and your third year as immediate past president, which really provides great continuity for this office. I have been very fortunate to serve with some of the organization’s finest during my board tenure. I salute the efforts of those whom I have learned so much from in the past including Past Presidents Barbara Palmer, Molly Seals, Jeanene Martin, Dan Zuhlke, and Jeff Payne. I am proud to have served for this group of distinguished leaders and their influence has helped me to develop a great understanding of our organization. Our current board of directors has worked very hard on some challenging goals that I have mentioned in past newsletters. We will be discussing progress and outcomes in Phoenix, but I am happy to report that 2011 has all the ingredients of a great year. Kudos to the board and ASHHRA staff!

I am happy to return to my home of five years, Phoenix, and to see old friends and enjoy some of the places that I have missed since moving to Florida. So, while you are in Phoenix, make sure you take some time to visit the many great attractions it has to offer, including the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Biosphere, and definitely Sedona, my all-time favorite location and most spiritual and romantic places in the world, among the red rocks!

Until next month,
Robert Walters, SPHR
Corporate Director, HR Operations
Health First, Inc.
3550 North Harbor City Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32932-0069
(321) 434-1957
bob.walters@health-first.org