The ACCIS 2013 Election is upon us!  This year, members will vote on two new members to the Board of Trustees; affirm one Board member who is filling an term; and vote on changes to the bylaws. 

Remember that each school gets one vote.  Members will receive information about voting on April 15th via email.

ACCIS thanks the members of the Nominating Committee and the Internal Review Committee for their hard work in ensuring the continued growth and health of our organizition.

As Trustees of ACCIS, our primary responsibility is strategic and financial oversight for the organization. To that end, the Board of Trustees regularly meet with the chairs of ACCIS committees—Communication, Finance, Founder Schools, Internal Review, Organizational Advancement, Program, and Research—to discuss progress, reflect on goals, and make plans for the future. This past January, ACCIS Trustee Dr. Gordon D. Chavis, Jr., Associate Vice President of the University of Central Florida hosted our group on the lovely UCF campus. I want to share with the ACCIS membership some results from those productive meetings.
 
As Eric Monheim’s tenure ends this summer, the Board must appoint ACCIS’ next Executive Director. Eric is an incredible leader who has done more for ACCIS than any of us will ever know. Under his watch ACCIS experienced tremendous growth as revenues doubled, membership increased, and programming expanded. Eric quietly handles much unglamorous detail such as making sure tax returns are filed, booking event space, and hiring bookkeepers. In short, Eric’s commitment, work ethic, and leadership have ensured that ACCIS is stronger than ever.
 
To identify Eric’s successor, the Board convened an Executive Director Search Committee that drew several conclusions. First of all, while ACCIS is indeed a fiscally healthy organization, it is not yet able to pay a full-time executive director. The committee also determined that the responsibilities of the executive director currently exceed what we can realistically ask a volunteer to do. Ultimately, it was concluded that a restructuring of the organization’s leadership was required in order to assure that ACCIS would continue being well managed, productive, and dynamic.
 

It’s time for nominations for two positions on the Board of Trustees for 2013-2014.  One person elected must be from a non-Founding School, and the other may be from either a non-Founding or Founding School.  Nominations will close on Wednesday, Feb.  20th.

As you consider putting yourself up for a position or sending in the name of another member, please consider the following points about responsibilities and experience:
The general role of the ACCIS Board of Trustees is to provide strategic and financial oversight of the organization. Terms are for three years and officially begin at the General Membership Meeting at NACAC in September.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualities and abilities:

• A commitment to the ACCIS mission:  ACCIS supports the essential work of college counselors in independent schools by affirming our unique leadership role in educational communities where we serve the young people in our care.  For the full statement, see:  http://www.accisnet.org/Mission
• Attendance at previous ACCIS programs—Summer Institute, Colloquia, College Tours, General Membership Meetings and Social Events
• A willingness to join monthly conference calls and to attend leadership meetings at NACAC, before the Summer Institute, and in mid-January
• A willingness to serve on one or more committees and take on a variety of responsibilities
• A desire to work collaboratively with other members of the ACCIS leadership team

ACCIS is continuing to grow in exciting ways, and it is our hope that many of you will self-nominate or provide names of those you feel would serve the organization well.  Please send names to Nancy Beane, Chair of Nominating at nancybeane@westminster.net

In other leadership news, the Board of Trustees and Cabinet of ACCIS had very productive meetings at The University of Central Florida in late January.  After two days of meaningful discussions among all present, the Board voted to do some additional restructuring of our ACCIS leadership.  Details will be provided in the near future, but there was strong agreement that these changes will allow for continued growth and greatly benefit the organization and our members.

Sincerely,
Nancy T. Beane
The Westminster Schools
Email:  nancybeane@westminster.net