'Never a better' AASA gathering.

As I write this, my next to the last column as president of AASA, I am flying high. One reason is literal for this is a laptop effort aboard American Airlines Flight 2890. The second reason I am flying high is because I am returning home from San Francisco where we just wrapped up the 136th AASA Annual Conference and Exposition.

I have attended a score of past national gatherings in my 16 years as a member of the association but never a better one and never at a more critical time in AASA's long history.

Clearly a successful conference was vital this year in part because of the state of the industry itself. Clouds of widespread funding reductions darken the doorsteps to America's schoolhouses and they are all the larger because of our newest underfunded yet overly prescriptive federal mandate, No Child Left Behind. The dichotomy of delivering more while receiving less represents a "perfect storm," and the stakes are not just compliance in some of our nation's schools; they are survival. As the saying goes, "What a difference a year makes."

Last year's national conference reflected a challenging time for our association and our profession. Like many education associations, our revenue was less than anticipated, our members faced unprecedented challenges in their districts that prevented travel or professional memberships, and we were at a crossroads. Unlike other associations, though, we aggressively attacked these problems, with bold and difficult decisions.

In 2004, AASA is tracking toward a balanced budget, and we have exciting data about our members that will inform our membership strategies in the future. We have instituted a new governance design that will provide clearly greater connections with and between our members. And finally, this year witnessed the relocation of AASA's headquarters to a new and significantly more efficient facility.

I claim no credit at all for our renaissance, but I do freely acknowledge others. Next month in my last President's Corner for The School Administrator, I look forward to recognizing several individuals who do so much and serve so well.

Yet the good news stories I shared would have been less consequential had it not been for the 2004 national conference. This annual conversation is, after all, our big celebration and what a celebration it was. We featured John Goodlad on Day 1 and late into the evening he was, at age 83, intellectually a full standard deviation beyond any of us with whom he was conversing.

The next morning sureshot Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken restored our faith in role-model athletes at a time when Americans, particularly our children, are in need of positive role models. You hear about individuals being "just a nice person." After spending several hours with Cal, I think he proved himself to be that and more.

Later that same day Jim Collins gave what arguably was the strongest presentation of the weekend. In concert with the title of his best-selling book, Good to Great, his message was widely affirmed as reflecting the latter part of the title.

The conference offered scholarly presentations by Taylor Branch and Ron Heifetz and inspirational presentations by many others, certainly including the artistic message delivered at our closing general session in words and on canvass by Eric Wahl.

If you weren't there, you really missed something. If you were, you know I am not embellishing the story. But the bottom line is when we needed it the most, the 2004 AASA Annual Conference and Exposition delivered. And it wasn't just good--it was great. See you next year in San Antonio!