December 15, 2009
     

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve MOVITE in 2009. This year has challenged our Institute and profession, both of which have responded admirably. While we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, we have a lot to be very proud of. The MOVITE board started 2009 with 3 primary goals:

1. Be active at the local level,
2. Support our students, and
3. Have great meetings.

Be Active at the Local Level – MOVITE reaches out to our local membership largely through our chapters. MOVITE has six Chapters, each of which is active in their local community. Cumulatively, our Chapters sponsor an ITE related activity almost every week. More information about Chapter activities can be found at: http://www.movite.org/chap_chapters.htm and http://sites.google.com/site/motrcalendar/. We are also exploring the establishment of a new chapter (or chapters) in Iowa. MOVITE is supporting this effort by sponsoring small events (such as webinars) for the Iowa ITE membership. Please contact Tony Boes if you are interested in participating in a new Iowa ITE Chapter.

Support Our Students - In 2009 MOVITE supported our students with over $6,000 in the form of student scholarships, competition awards, and student chapter support. This support is critical to our mission in that it provides opportunities for our students and professionals to interact and learn from each other. This support is a catalyst for increased involvement from our student chapters. Our students have done well in 2009.

Have Great Meetings - We had an absolutely fantastic fall meeting in Springfield. The local OCITE Chapter put on an “over the top” program including several nationally and internationally known speakers, several special events for students, and exceptional entertainment. I would like to extend a huge “thank you” to the Springfield Local Arrangements Committee for a memorable conference.

I hope that you will all support Angelo Lombardo in 2010 as much as you have supported me in 2009. He is excited for the opportunity to serve you and committed to having another great year for MOVITE. We need you to be involved! Please consider the following in the upcoming year:

• Attending the Spring Meeting in Kansas City and the Fall Meeting in Oklahoma.
• Running in 2010 for state director (Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska) or board director (Missouri)
• Talking with your state’s director about their business plan.
• Attending a chapter meeting or hosting an ITE webinar at your office.
• Making a professional presentation to your local student chapter and/or taking a student out to lunch.
• Publishing a technical article in the MOVITE journal.

Be Active at the Local Level

Thank you for your support of MOVITE, have a great Holiday Season, and the best of luck in 2010!

Shawn Leight
2009 MOVITE President

October 27, 2008

Wow!  What a great year for MOVITE meetings and activities.  Tulsa - you were a hard act to follow.  What a great meeting you put on in the Spring.  The Omaha meeting Local Arrangements Committee was really working hard to have another great meeting and based on all the positive feedback it is certainly clear both meetings this year were  a great success.  The results in Omaha show there were over 180 folks in attendance.  We haven't seen that high of a turnout for several years.  Also, the meeting had an excellent technical program, awards program and student competition.  Thank you to all who attended and thank you again to the Local Arrangements Committee led by Jim Kollbaum and Sarah Tracy.  Job well done!

How about a MAD update (2008 Make A Difference campaign).  So far LOCATE has presented the "DRIVING:  Safe Habits|Safe Choices" presentation to over 600 high school students at five high schools.  At each location the presentation has been well received including invitations to return to work with other classes.  LOCATE has done a great job getting multiple presenters prepared to carry the message to the students.  By the end of the 2008-09 school year we expect that over 2,000 students will have seen the presentation.  Lives will be saved because of these efforts.  Consider picking up the torch for your local chapter.  I will help you any way I can.

During the Fall Meeting the newly elected state representatives for Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska were introduced and sworn in.  Also the 2009 officers were sworn in.  That makes me pretty much a Past President.  I want to tell how much of an honor and priviledge it has been to serve you as MOVITE President in 2008.  Thank you to all the MOVITE officers.  You have worked hard during 2008.  Thank you for your continued committment to the members of MOVITE.  Chapter officers and members - you all rock!  The chapters are one of the best things to happen in our Section in my 9 years of active service on the Board.  Keep growing and doing.  And finally MOVITE members... you all are the most important asset of MOVITE.  I'm looking forward to hanging with you at meetings and hearing about the great things we accomplish in our professional lives and personal lives - AND - I am also hoping we continue to blur the lines between these areas of our lives more and more in the future.

God bless,

Matt Selinger
2008 MOVITE President