Opportunities abound!

A-35ers can look forward to a new way to participate in NDTA activities this summer. The Association is bringing back the idea of smaller regional meetings. The pilot event, an educational and training Regional Conference, is scheduled for June 26 and 27, 2008, in Hershey, PA, and will be hosted by the Atlantic Region and the Washington, DC, and Central Pennsylvania Chapters.

Records show that regional meetings, in addition to the yearly Forum, were very popular in the 70s and 80s. Then, as now, NDTA realized that significant numbers of members could not attend the annual Forum because of time, distance, and expense. To solve the problem, NDTA produced regional conferences throughout the country and overseas. At their peak, there were 10 to 12 events in addition to the annual Forum being held each year.

A recent meeting of the Forum and Education Committee called by NDTA Vice President Greg Reid and chaired by NDTA Vice Chairman of the Board VADM Gordon Holder unanimously voted to bring the regional concept back for 2008. Primary support for the idea came about as a way to fulfill a goal of USTRANSCOM. The command asked NDTA to explore ways of providing more training and professional education opportunities to its employees. Smaller regional events seemed to be one way to assist USTRANSCOM while providing an additional opportunity to extend NDTA's educational and networking benefits to more members than we could reach through the annual forum alone.

The committee designated the Atlantic Region and Hershey, PA, as the location for the first pilot program to be held this summer. Results will help determine the scope, location, and format of future events. Education Chairman Professor Irvin Varkonyi and Dr. Richard Young, Penn State University, are developing a CEU program in conjunction with US-TRANSCOM, and NDTA Headquarters will be exploring other appropriate topics to add to the professional program. A-35ers have been asked to contribute their thoughts and ideas for the meeting.

In particular, the committee is looking for format, program, and promotional ideas that would incentivize A-35 members to attend the June meeting. One suggestion was to hold the professional sessions on a Friday and then provide reduced rates at the Hershey area attractions to encourage attendees to extend their visit over the weekend. This combination business/leisure format is one of the ideas being pursued by the planning committee. Another is a separate A-35 mentoring event that would give A-35er's one-on-one time with Senior Leadership. They would like us to contribute input on any aspect of the concept that would make it more attractive for A-35 members to participate. For example, price ranges for registration, starting and ending times, program topics and features, guest speakers--in fact, input on all aspects of the event. Work is just starting, so now is the time for us to make our thoughts known. If you have the time and interest, I invite you to contact me with your ideas or to personally attend future planning meetings with me at NDTA Headquarters.

Ms. Lori Leffler, A-35 Chair

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