Hello and Happy Summer!

It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the spring conference in May!  It always seems like that event comes around so fast, and it is so refreshing to be out of the office, in a peaceful environment, with fellow volunteer leaders. 

Last week, I had the great pleasure of having a retreat with the outgoing and incoming board members at the Shoreline Inn in Muskegon.  We had great weather, good fellowship, lively conversations, and a smooth transition from one board to the next.   I am thankful to have such willing participants to work with in the coming year.

This is the 40th year for MCDVS!  A special milestone that deserves special celebration throughout the year and at the spring conference in May 2012.  We are currently working on the location for the conference and will send out "save the date" information later this summer.

One of the big things the outgoing and incoming board talked about at the retreat, is refreshing our "look" at this 40 year mark.  More will be coming on that, as well.  We will also be providing more opportunities for networking on-line in both professional and fun ways - through not only a revised website, but by initializing use of LinkedIn and Facebook in ways that make sense, and are optional/additional ways to communicate with colleagues both near and far.

This fall we have a very special education day planned!  For those of you that attended the spring conference ... you were given a "teaser" prize at the conclusion of the conference.  Don't worry about trying to figure it out - it will be "black and white" when you attend the conference in October.

I thank you for all you do for each other, for your community, and for your organization.  We are blessed to have people in our midst daily that do incredible things for others - I am always amazed at what people do when giving from the heart.

Most Sincerely,

Jacquie Karr-Zlotnicki