President’s Report

November 22, 2008

Memphis Hilton Hotel

In review of the three of the four activities (and accompanying goals) established by the TCA strategic planning team in August 2007:

• Building a Strong Leadership Team:  (“100% of the officers of TCA, its Divisions and Chapters will participate in leadership training each year at LDC and/or Conference beginning July 2008 and each year thereafter”). Although we did not have 100% of all officers present at LDC, we had record representation for chapters and divisions. I am confident that we have a strong leadership team by other definitions as well. It is an honor and a privilege to be among my fellow governing board members. Though we may face barriers and challenges in our efforts to provide service and cohesive leadership, I am confident that we will continue to join together as a unified governing body.
• Promoting the Organizational Structure, Management, and Resources:  (“Increase revenue sources for TCA by 5% each year compared with the revenue from the 2006 Conference”). This is a constant work-in-progress and requires all of us to remember it costs money to run even a non-profit organization/business. Adequate reserve monies must be secured and maintained, particularly in light of anticipated AND unexpected fiscal challenges. We must look “back” regarding our spending in order to see where improvements can be made now, and in our future. Hence, our primary goal is to not exceed our over-all budget amount, and to generate more revenue. /////////////// On a related but separate note, there is urgent need of specific procedural guidelines and protocols relative to the organizational structure and management of this organization. TCA was established 51 years ago—I call upon everyone to locate and review any existing procedures and protocols. Furthermore, I propose that we create and develop essential procedural guidelines in our handbook, and review our by-laws in light of the March 27, 2008 ACA by-laws revisions. 

(Update on budget, line item Publications:  Both the journal and the newsletter were more costly than previous publications, hence this line item amount has been exceeded. Regarding the journal, we did not anticipate the growth of the journal (more accepted articles) and the subsequent costs for additional pages. Robin Lee contacted the President regarding the cost increase. Monies were already invested in this journal, authors of the articles to be published had been notified of acceptance. Several options were explored, and Robin and our Sheridan Press representative Kristy Snyder identified a few areas to cut the costs. The President has asked that the journal co-editors Robin Lee and Joel Diambra explore bids and prepare a comparative analysis of various publishers. Sheridan Press has continued to provide professional and quality service and we appreciate doing business with them.  Efforts of this analysis will ensure that prices and service elsewhere are comparable. However, please note that we do not want to jeopardize the quality, integrity, and professionalism of the journal that is now being produced. In preparation of this report, the printer’s invoice for the newsletter has not yet been reviewed to determine the source of the cost increase.  I am requesting that there will be no additional newsletter printing during this fiscal year. I am asking that our Newsletter Chair Rob Shelsky continue to prepare the newsletter, but the document will be submitted electronically to member e-mail addresses. For the few members that do not have an e-mail address, the Executive Director will send the member(s) a newsletter by regular mail. The TCA newsletter is one of our member benefits, and I appreciate Rob’s willingness to serve as Chair in this capacity).

• Maintaining and Enhancing Membership: (“Increase membership each fiscal year by 5% compared to the June 2007 membership”). We have witnessed significant increases in several areas of membership at times over the past year. We will continue to strive to increase our overall TCA membership. This effort will not only be one of a fiscal nature, but the concentration on membership will be about MEMBERS—What do we know about our members/prospective members? What services are needed, wanted?  My Challenge to you: If you are reading this and are not a TCA member or your membership has lapsed, DON’T DELAY, JOIN TCA TODAY!

Friends, as I said several times last year, let’s continue to go for the gold. You are Golden and we need to celebrate that fact. However, there are many other golden friends out there whom we have yet to meet. Some of our “counseling sisters and brothers” are under-represented in TCA in a number of ways/areas, but specifically relative to professions and diversity. There are some professionals that view TCA as an organization that serves only School Counselors, Mental Health Counselors, and Counselor Educators (and students of the aforementioned fields). Let’s start building our bridges and extend an invitation to other related helping professionals. We welcome you: Academic Counselors, Supervisors for school counselors, Crisis Specialists/Mobile Crisis team members, University/College Counselors, School Supervisors for mental health counselors, School Psychologists, Teachers/Educators, Mental Health Counselors, Community/Agency Counselors, Social Workers, Counselor Educators, Case Managers, Students, University and College Admission Counselors/Administrators, School Superintendents, Employment Counselors, Eligibility Counselors, Supervisors for Crisis teams, Bob from the community who is interested in the organization because he is caring for a brother with mental health related disabilities, Directors/all personnel from mental health centers/agencies. . . . . the list continues, and the possibilities are endless. We are all missing out on varied, rich and meaningful opportunities of mutual sharing and fellowship.

Within and outside of the structure of TCA (i.e., professions), there are areas where bridges need be constructed, strengthened, and maintained. People may feel isolated from other fellow professionals, some may lack a sense of belonging, a chapter or division may feel separate from others, there may a feeling that someone of a particular profession is not valued, and there may be some that sense friction and separateness (no connectedness) between one group and another. I implore us all to break down the barriers across AND within professions, across AND within groups, across AND within chapters/divisions—Ask yourself, do I value my fellow members? Do I value who they are? What they need? Am I able to be respectful of personal and professional differences among members? Am I able to join together in unity to build the bridges we need? Effective immediately, please JOIN TOGETHER for the:

Building Bridges Membership Recruitment Campaign

Step 1: Bring at least ONE (1) “new” person into our membership before February 15^th, 2009.  In the bridges we build, we must extend ourselves and reach out to others. If every member reaches one person, and brings that individual into the Tennessee Counseling Association membership, how strong and extensive might our bridges become? Let’s join together now.

Step 2:  Review the lapsed membership lists. If you see some people you know on the list, reach out and contact them. Ask them to join together with us. Chapters and Divisions, develop a “phone tree” and contact lapsed or soon to be lapsed members. We miss them and want these folks to join together with us. Bring our TCA sisters and brothers back into the TCA family

Step 3: Introduce new members at your meetings/events, in new-letters, and on the websites. Encourage involvement. Ensure all members have opportunities to share a sense of belonging.

Now, Cross that Bridge and Begin Again with Step 1!

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In closing, I propose that we consider the following in our commitment to the Tennessee Counseling Association’s continued growth, productivity, and “health”:

v      May we collectively engage in promoting diversity, celebrating our uniqueness, as well our commonalities.

v      May we maximize our efforts to explore, create, develop, and implement services for TCA members.

v      May we build strong bridges across AND within groups/chapters/divisions/professions, fostering cohesion, collaboration, cooperation, connectedness, and honest & respectful communication.

Respectfully Submitted, 

Janet “Jan” P. Turner, Ph. D., LPC/MHSP, NCC

TCA President   2008-2009