Dear NATA Colleagues,

I am pleased to tell you that the Officers and Board of Directors of NATA once again agreed to provide limited scholarship support for those NATA members who might need it in order to attend the Detroit, MI Conference, November 10 to 14, 2012. Funds from both our Ilene Herst Fund and through operating funds and scholarships are available to cover the registration fee and some/all of the hotel room costs.

Please follow this link to the 2012 Scholarship Application for the upcoming NATA Conference in Detroit. If you wish to apply for a scholarship, please complete the form and return it to my attention. The Board of Directors has established some guidelines for this year's Conference scholarship requests and they are as follows:

A. Scholarship Priority:

1. Conference first timers

2. First timers who are in their first full year of congregational service

3. Senior and Regular members in good standing for 2012/2013 membership year

B. If a member of NATA, falling in the above categories, makes a scholarship request, s/he will be eligible for the following:

1. 1st Request: Full registration fee (includes most conference meals) and four conference hotel room nights.

2. 2nd Request: Full registration fee (includes most conference meals) and two of the four conference hotel room nights.

3. 3rd Request: Full registration fee (that includes most conference meals). The recipient shall cover the cost of his/her conference hotel room.

It is expected that anyone receiving scholarship of any kind will provide his/her own transportation to/from the conference city. After being awarded a scholarship, the expectation is that the individual will integrate the cost of future conferences into the congregation's budget or pay for it himself/herself.

An application for a scholarship is not a guarantee that it will be granted. Applications will be accepted now and up until July 2, 2012. At that time, all requests will be tabulated and a determination made if enough funds exist to cover all the requests. In fairness to all applicants, you will receive a response by the middle of July, so you will know where you stand and can finalize your plans for Detroit. Please know that your request will be held in strict confidence and will be handled with the highest level of professionalism and respect.

We are so pleased that NATA is able to help our members who want to be able to participate in what will be a wonderful conference in Detroit, but cannot afford it. NATA is here to serve its members and if there is anything I or your leadership can do to provide support to you, I hope you will contact me.

B'Shalom

Janice

Janice Rosenblatt

NATA President-Elect

jsr@bethami.org

301-340-6818