1. Office Name: President
2. Office Term (Date: Ex. 2002-2003): 2003-2004
3. Discuss/summarize your involvement with your committees this year:
I attempted to offer support to the NMRT officers while allowing them the autonomy to get their jobs done. I feel that the lines of communication would have been more effective had I continued to contact each Director regularly according to the 4-week cycle I set up earlier in the year; a lesson learned.
4. Based on your year's experience in this office, what future directions do you see your office or NMRT needing to take this year or the following year?
My experience as NMRT President was a hectic one, to say the least, due to the birth of a unexpected set of twins! I think that in order to carry out the duties of this office more effectively takes much more focus than I was able to give this year. I was able to accomplish the basics of the position, such as coordinating conference activities, but was not able to try new projects or activities. The incoming President, Sally Gibson, has already displayed impressive leadership and organization, and I am excited to see how NMRT thrives under her guidance.
5. What tips or hints do you have that might help your successor carry out the duties of this office?
NMRT is fairly self-sufficient and committees are generally able to accomplish their goals no matter what, but the Board and Chairs always are happier with effective guidance; so finding a balance between micromanaging and “disappearing” is key.
But as stated above, my successor is already doing an wonderful job in her planning, and it looks as if she has the process well in-hand.
6. Please address the role of the board member as
coordinator. For example, with student outreach split among three committees reporting to
three directors, somebody will need to take the initiative to make sure things
are going smoothly. Another example would be projects between membership,
alumni, and student outreach which need to be coordinated. How might activities
such as this be handled by board members efficiently and smoothly? Your
thoughts here will be most helpful for future boards.
There is no trickier coordination to be done in this group than what the President does. It is vital to keep an eye on the projects of NMRT to assure they are getting done on time, and also to keep track of the conference planning paperwork to ensure that each committee has a venue to work in at Annual and/or Midwinter.
Because the duties of NMRT are spread between groups in ways that occasionally confound understanding, the organizational review that President Sally Gibson is undertaking this coming term will be vital to help smooth the processes out and group activities more appropriately.
7. Date of report:
8. Submitted by: Beth Kraemer