1. Office Name: President
2. Office Term: 2004-2005
3. Discuss/summarize your involvement with your committees this year:
The NMRT Executive Board completed an organizational review. The purpose of the Organization Review was to determine if every NMRT committee served a purpose, are all the committees still necessary, and does the current committee structure meet the needs of the NMRT members. From the Organizational Review report and the Board discussions several recommendations emerged. Six new committees were formed: Vice Presidential Planning ad hoc committee, Annual Program committee, Online Discussion Forum committee, Scholarship, Writing, & Research committee, Membership Promotion Diversity & Recruitment committee, and Membership Relations committee. Five committees were disbanded: Publicity committee, Exhibitor Contract & Relations committee, Self Study and Resource Allocation committee, Diversity committee, Leadership Development committee. The Division of Responsibilities of NMRT Officers and Directors was restructured so that officers had a similar workload.
The NMRT Board approved a proposal which would allow NMRT directors to run for a specific directorship and serve a continuous two year term in that office. The By-laws changes will be presented to the general membership on the 2006 ballot for their approval.
4. Based on your year’s experience in this office, what future directions do you see your office or NMRT needing to take this year or the following year?
The Handbook and the Committee Interest Form will need to be updated to reflect the committee changes.
5. What tips or hints do you have that might help your successor carry out the duties of this office?
The President should give suggestions and ideas but allow the committees to have responsibility for their work. The supervising officer will make sure that the work is accomplished. The President can focus on the big picture and leave the details to the committee chairs. It is essential that the president respond to questions in a timely manner.
6. Please address the role of the board member as coordinator. For example, with student outreach split among three committees reporting to three directors, somebody will need to take the initiative to make sure things are going smoothly. Another example would be projects between membership, alumni, and student outreach which need to be coordinated. How might activities such as this be handled by board members efficiently and smoothly? Your thoughts here will be most helpful for future boards.
The restructuring of the division of responsibilities for NMRT Officers and Directors should eliminate most of the coordination problems.
7. Date of report: July 5, 2005
8. Submitted by: Sally Gibson