Due to the rather unusual ice and snow event in our area in February, our regularly scheduled meeting was canceled.  So it has been awhile since we have seen each other.  Mother Nature permitting, we will back on track with our meeting on March 10.  We will also be hosting a professional seminar on that date at the Hurst Conference Center from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Sarah Jacobson with the Texas State Library will conduct a session on Records Management.  Motivational speaker and trainer, Marti Miller, will help us to derive more "Joy on the Job" and Ann Marks will teach us how to better communicate through the art of Face Reading.  We will also have a short legislative update during lunch.  The cost is only $75.00, with discounts for two or more attendees from one city.  We would love to have as many Chapter members attend as possible!!!  Information is available on our website www.ntmca.org

We held our annual Holiday Celebration on Wednesday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Texas Star in Euless.  We had a great crowd and had a lot of fun.  It was great to see some of our retirees.  The members made a generous donation to the local charity "Feed by Grace".  The Holiday Committee did a phenomenal job!  Thanks to Chair, Jesica McEachern, Amy Piukana, Art Camacho, Diane Zucco, Laura Bell and Kim Sutter.

I am very proud of our 2011 TMCCP graduates!  We had several Chapter members receive their certifications or re-certifications at the Election Law seminar in January.  The lists includes first-time graduates: Christel Pettinos, Coppell; Susan Stewart, River Oaks; and re-certifications: Susan Crim, Euless; Jean Dwinnell, Fate; Marty Hendrix, Fort Worth; Elaine Simpson, Garland; Cynthia Singleton, Colleyville; Linda Taylor, Venus; Kathleen Weddell, Aledo; Angie Winkle, Crowley, and Diane Zucco, Plano.  Congratulations to all of you!!!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Marty Hendrix and Art Camacho for their generous donations to the Alyce Deering Scholarship Fund.  Your contributions are very much appreciated. 

The Alyce Deering Scholarship Committee will also be conducting a silent auction at the Professional Seminar on March 10.  If you would like to contribute an item for the auction, please contact Ivy Peterson at ivy.peterson@cleburne.net.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. (If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those that are headed the same way we are going.)

I hope to see you all in March!

 Shelly Doty, TRMC, CMC
 President NTMCA