This issue of Practice is being dedicated to supporting the Annual Conference.   We are excited about the training opportunities the Association has offered in 2005 and hope this pattern continues in the years ahead. 

Much of what the Association has to offer its members is due to the hard work of our volunteer board. The board is made up of representatives from Public and Private social service agencies from across the state that are dedicated to the provision of home-based family services.   The board has members that are currently in administrative positions and others that are providing the services the Association represents.

In the Spring issue of Practice, I introduced three new board members; Kim Boulier, Shelley Miller-O’Neil and Robin Johnson.   In this issue I would like to re-introduce board members who have been with the Association and have provided dedicated service for several years. 

Doug Nureneberg is the Association’s Vice President and has headed the Training Committee for several years.  Doug works for the Department of Community Health.  Jeff Greshak is the board Treasurer.  Jeff has also been with the board for several years and has chaired the Membership Committee in the past.  Jeff was instrumental in helping to set up and promote the Associations’ Web Page.   Jeff currently works for Network 180.    Chris Rehagan is the director of Lutheran Social Services of Lansing and has been with the board for a number of years.  In her years with the board Chris has co-chaired the Public Education Committee and assisted with finding articles for Practice.  For the past three years Chris has acted as the secretary for the board. 

Jill Clark is the current chair of the Membership Committee.  Jill was a member of the membership committee before joining the board.  She has been active in the Association for many years and has been a

presenter at the Annual conference on a number of occasions.  Jill works

for Highfields Inc. as a home-based supervisor.   Mike Smith is co-chair of the Training committee. Mike, who works for Holy Cross Children’s Services, has been with the board for four years. Mike has been an active member of the training committee and has been responsible for lining up most of the main presenters for the annual conference.   Our Public Education Committee chair  is Jim Hulbert.  Jim has been an active member of the Association for numerous years and was know to the board through his consistent attendance at the Associations conferences.  Jim who works for Northern Family Interventions as a home-based counselor joined the board three years ago. Besides heading the Public Ed committee, Jim has been instrumental in organizing the free training in Gaylord, his home town. 

The Association’s at-large members include; CarlaWaite of Network 180.  Carla who is a former recipient of our President’s Award joined the board three years ago.  Carla is a member of the Training committee and has been instrumental in establishing the practice of holding free trainings for members.  In her efforts to offer free trainings, Carla has helped increase our membership numbers.  Deb Peters is an at-large member who is active on the training committee. Deb and her staff at Bethany Christian Services have assisted the board in registration for the annual conference and the free trainings. Deb has been with the board for four years.  Patrick Okoronkwo of Lutheran Social Services of Jackson joined the board two years ago.  Patrick has been active in the training committee.

In closing I would like to ask our members to show their appreciation for the fine work that is being accomplished by our board.  If you see one of them thank them for their dedication to families and to  home-based services.