President's Message: A Two Way Street

Dear Colleagues,

ESSAA began in 1996. Its commitments to the membership have not wavered since its beginning. First and foremost, the founders were committed to collaborative leadership and wrote a constitution that placed the governance of the Association in the hands of an Executive Board (EB). Thirty-Eight (38) public school supervisors and administrators from across the state meet three (3) times a year to chart ESSAA's annual course.

In addition, a sub-group (President's Cabinet) of the EB meets in January and July to monitor all of the Association's components such as legal & legislative Services, communications, and workshops and conferences. But throughout the entire process, it is clear to all that they are responsible for charting ESSAA's course. The concern of every meeting is to take whatever steps are necessary to insure that our membership is being serviced effectively and efficiently. Part of that commitment is to keep members "current" on all educational issues impacting supervisors and administrators across the state. The first part of this equation, i.e. acquiring the needed information for our membership, is something that we have grown extremely proficient in doing. The second part, communication, is something that we need to focus on as we face the Association needs of 2004.

This year we plan to make better use of our e-mail program and our web-site www.essaa.org so that we can pass on vital information to all members in a timely manner. There have already been major changes to our newsletter The Journal which we plan to go to press with at least four times a year. We have also launched our first regional newsletter (Central NYS) and plan to go to press at least one a year for each of our five membership regions. In January, the President's Cabinet will meet. Communications will be at the top of the list for discussion. Other topics, such as adding additional workshops and conferences, and the possibility of launching a statewide convention, may develop into recommendations for the entire EB to consider when it meets in February.

Finally, I want to remind the membership of the fact that ESSAA publishes and distributes to its members a Directory with several ways to contact each and every member of the decision making team. The goal is to make communication a two way street so members are comfortable seeking help or offering suggestions to make us even better as we continue to grow.

In 1996 we were 1700 strong. Now we are 2700. There is strength in size, as long as the size is used effectively. And to a very large extent, our effectiveness is measured by membership satisfaction.

As we begin 2004, with COMMUNICATION as our New Year's resolution, I encourage you to contact us if there is any problem we can assist you in resolving. Every time ESSAA helps one of its members, our organization's effectiveness and reputation rises, and another administrator has a peaceful night's sleep.

Here's to a great 2004 for all of us!

Sincerely,

John F. Sullivan