As I write this first message for our MAC year 2011, let me start by congratulating past president Roy Van Houton and the officers for the tremendous job they have done for the past 2 years.  I’m prejudiced I know, but I believe the Mid-Atlantic Chapter has had the best and most loyal corps of officers, directors and volunteers in all of IECA, and we continue to welcome new and younger members into our ranks.  Roy and his crew continued that tradition.  Our MAC is also one of IECA’s most decorated chapters having earned many outstanding chapter awards over the years.  It is humbling and an honor to serve as the MAC president for 2011.  Why this title for the article?  “Palaver” as a verb means to speak or have a discussion.  The other two “P’s” just seemed to complete it. 

Like many of you I remember the very first session at a North American IECA conference when we had our very first MAC organizational meeting.  Other prospective chapters did the same.  While we have always argued in a friendly way with our Western Chapter friends, I think the MAC was actually the first “chartered” IECA chapter.  Western may have started out ahead of us, but I think we cleared our paperwork first.  Eric Beuhl from DE was our first chapter president, and I was on the IECA Board at the time.  Eric stepped down shortly after that meeting when he changed jobs.  Our very first MAC conference and trade show was in Williamsburg, VA in 1994, and we could be back there for our 20th anniversary in 2013.  How far have we come?  Our conferences have matured until today they are among the best of any chapter in IECA.  We have conducted some very successful workshops in our states over the years, and we need to get back to doing that.  We have some workshop plans for 2011 that I hope work out.  We have one of the best scholarship programs in IECA.  We became IECA’s first “sister chapter” for a fledgling chapter in another country, when we adopted the Indian Chapter in 2005.  They have been superb partners and we need to reestablish our close contact.  We may be one of the most financially sound chapters in IECA.  Our members and officers have always managed chapter affairs using proper business practices.  In fact, I only remember one activity that we have done over all these years that didn’t work out, and that was a session in Roanoke many years ago where we had more speakers than attendees.  Let me tell you, we all learned from that experience and have never allowed it to happen again.  Some of my older colleagues remember it.  We have always supported the Envirothon in our states.  We have carried IECA’s flag to other organizations by traveling with our MAC exhibit to their conferences.  And I won’t mention chasing the borrowed beer keg’s down the hall in those early years (Tommy).  But enough reminiscing, 2011 is here.   

Our chapter challenges for 2011 are significant.  The economy is still in the doldrums, which has certainly affected membership.  That cannot keep us from working at recruiting new members.  What we (and IECA) have to offer in the way of continuing education is needed by the entire industry.  I mentioned workshops.  I surely hope we are able to conduct a one-day workshop with at least one conservation district or another partner in 2011.  We are talking with a VA SWCD now and it looks promising.  It would be nice if we could have more than one workshop in a state in 2011.  Doing so would also help our membership.  We talked about this at Front Royal.  If any of you have a potential workshop partner in your state, please let us know and we will work with them.  Past MAC President and current IECA Board Member Charlie Riling has already made the arrangements for our 18^th Environmental Conference and Trade Exposition at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV for Sept. 20-22, 2011.  Mark those dates on your calendar now, and let’s support our Mountaineer colleagues who have really supported us over the years.  This will be our first-ever-annual conference in WV.  Our 2011 scholarship program and envirothon involvement is already underway and will again be a success. 

So 2011, like every year, will challenge us to do well.  Our MAC Chapter has always risen to the challenge.  I have no doubt that with our dedicated members, directors and officers, we will again.  What might be some attainable chapter goals in 2011?  Here are some ideas for starters: 

• Work with a partner organization such as a SWCD and hold at least one workshop in a MAC state (VA is a target right now).

• Work with IECA and assist in conducting a “Road Show” workshop in the MAC area (targets are DC area and PA at the moment).

• Conduct another successful annual conference and exposition, our 18^th, in Charleston, WV, Sep. 20-22, 2011. 

• Work hard to increase conference attendance by 10% over 2010.

• Conduct another successful MAC scholarship program.

• Provide “Envirothon” support to the state where we hold our annual conference, WV in 2011.

• Increase MAC membership by 15 members.

• Have our MAC exhibit at 5 partner meetings or functions in 2011.  Roy, Jason and all of you have done a great job in this regard in past years.

• Increase communications with our sister chapter in India.  If we learn that an Indian Chapter member will be in the US, invite them to visit or tour with us.  If they are here during one of our events, provide them a complimentary attendance.

• Compete well in the IECA Chapter “Partners for Excellence” competition once again.  Winning in this competition has been a MAC tradition.  We intend to compete strongly every year.

• Review, revise, and update our Chapter bylaws.

I encourage any of you to suggest other MAC priorities for 2011.  The economy is surely a factor, and I don’t expect much real change in 2011, but we cannot let that keep us from working hard.     

I wish you all a very profitable 2011. 

Go MAC!