COL Denny Edwards, USA (Ret.).

"Pages Future" grew from our NDTA 50th Anniversary column called "From Pages Past, " where for nearly 15 years we chronicled the history of NDTA as presented in the pages of the Defense Transportation Journal. With forward thinking motivation, we are now going to start a dialogue about the future. Subjects will range from discussions of proposed projects or ideas that are still in the "brainstorming" phase to notification of coming events that are already on the calendar. Members are encouraged to contact us about subjects they think NDTA should consider also.

Just as Spring is the time for rebirth and new growth, we have a few items on the NDTA Calendar as well that are new or growing. On 27-29 July, NDTA will be partnering with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) in presenting its Annual TechNet Mid-America. The conference will feature a combination of Information Technology and Logistics topics. The local NDTA and AFCEA Chapters are sponsoring the event, which is being held at the Gateway Convention Center, in Collinsville, IL, just a few miles from USTRANSCOM and SDDC Headquarters at Scott AFB.

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NDTA President Ken Wykle is slated to moderate one of the logistics panels, and several NDTA Corporate members have been asked to speak about their areas of expertise. First time NDTA Exhibitors should call NDTA for a special discount (703-751-5011) and to attend a special USTRANSCOM/SDDC event. Partnership events like this are one of the ways that NDTA is extending value added benefits to its membership. Last year's TechNet Mid-America drew more than 700 attendees--most all of them military and government personnel. Seventy-five exhibitors took part, and this year, with the addition of more logistics and transportation content, they expect to surpass the 2008 record.

Other pending events that are new to NDTA include a Navy Symposium in early 2010 and a one-day seminar in the Washington, DC, area about doing business with the US military and Federal Government.

Also, readers are reminded that NDTA launched an Education Initiative in support of USTRANSCOM JDDE at the recent SDDC Symposium and NDTA Expo in Atlanta. Plans are to grow the educational component of the Annual Forum at Opryland in Nashville 19-23 September 2009. Several schools and universities with transportation, logistics, and supply management programs have shown an interest in participating. So, stay tuned.