Members Elected to Serve on ACA National Board.

ACA is pleased to announce the results of this year's national board elections. Approximately 27 percent of members cast their vote for national president-elect, vice president, and three board members-at-large this year, up 7 percent from last year. Thanks to everyone who voted!

The National Nominating /Awards Committee appreciates the commitment and dedication of all members who were on the ballot.

President-elect: Marla Coleman

Marla Coleman, co-owner/director of Coleman Country Day Camps in Merrick, New York, was elected ACA President-elect. Marla is currently a member of the ACA National Board of Directors and a member of the ACA Public Awareness Committee and ACA National Conference Program Committee. She helped to organize last year's National Camp Community Day and Peter Yarrow's "Don't Laugh at Me" project and was a delegate at the Presidents' Summit for America's Future.

Marla believes in the power of the camp experience and wants to share that belief with the world. In her platform, Marla stated, "It's time to tell the story of the higher value of a camp experience. It's time to measure the constructive effects of a camp experience. It's time to develop resources so that every child can have a camp experience. It's time to hold ourselves to a best practice template. Public policy, public awareness, and standards form the foundation upon which we must build advancement."

Marla will serve as a part of the executive committee for the next year and will take office following the 2002 ACA National Conference in Washington, D.C.

Vice president: Chuck McGrady

Chuck McGrady, owner/director of Falling Creek Camp for Boys in Tuxedo, North Carolina, was elected to the office of ACA National Vice president. Chuck is currently a member of the ACA National Board of Directors and a member of the ACA Public Policy Committee and ACA National Insurance Committee. In his platform statement, Chuck said, "I think we must continue to expand membership programs and benefits. For example, running a camp is not the same as it was fifty years ago or even a decade ago. ACA needs to continue to expand its public policy work....ACA needs to be the place where camp professionals go for information about laws and regulations that affect them."

Chuck will serve as vice president for three years.

National Board Members-at-Large

Howard Batterman, Mary Helen Franko, and Lenny Silberman were elected to serve as national board members-at-large. They will each serve a three-year term on the national board.

Howard Batterman is owner/director of Sesame Rockwood Camps in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and president of the ACA Keystone Regional Section. In his platform, Howard stated, "We, as an organization, need to continue an even more vigorous push to expand our membership -- section by section. An increased membership brings not only additional talent and energy to the organization but also a strong political voice."

Mary Helen Franko is senior field manager for the Camp Fire Boys and Girls national office. She is standards chair of the ACA Texoma Section and has served as president and program vice president of the Texoma section. In her platform, she stated, "Some issues I see as important to ACA at this time (include): supporting sections as they continue to determine how best to serve the membership, some with stretched resources; identifying best practices not only within ACA but within the business and educational communities; continuing to stress the importance of camping as an educational and developmental program for children and youth; and identifying ACA's role in the national and international community."

Leonard "Lenny" Silberman is the executive in charge of camping for the Jewish Community Center Association. In his platform, he stated, "My platform would include...advocating for public policy and lobbying for camping issues presented before Congress, advocating for international staff programs, developing the advancement of the organization of strategic alliances and sponsorships with corporate America and the business community, and enhancing the long-term vision of the American Camping Association."