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The Balance Wheel: Summer 2003Inside This Issue | Past Issues | Contact UsPresident’s ColumnBy: Joan Guilfoyle The days are counting down toward our 61st annual conference in Cow Town Extraordinaire - Cody, Wyoming. On Friday, July 25, ACIers from around the country will be flying into Billings or Yellowstone, or flying by tire over those fast (very fast) western highways en route to Buffalo Bill country. I've seen the schedule (you can, too, at our website) and it's looking pretty darn wonderful. Four tracts (five on opening day) and field trips that have me drooling already. At the 1995-96 conference, someone put a fly rod in my hand on the Snake River, and - four hours later - couldn't get me to come to dinner. Oh, that was a trip... Jackson Hole for western chic ("all leg/no leggings" cowgirls posing on Harleys and saddle bar stools) and that riffle-filled, cool-water western river for lazing, gazing and later hooking the most beautiful fish I'd ever seen. I know I squealed at every catch and at my surprising ability to actually do this (only hooked the guide's hat once or twice – whatever!) Reaching underwater to let the little rainbow go also brought a slight squeal to my lips. I can hardly wait to get back to Wyoming, this time with my own gear. We all know that our main challenge this year is not wondering if we can afford the time away from the office, or doubting the value of the sessions, or lamenting the opportunity to network with professional colleagues. And we already know Cody is a fun town in a gorgeous state. The challenge for some of us will be securing funds and permission to travel to a state other than our own. Considering that our membership hails from over 40 different states, this could be our challenge. Our ACI list serve has been simmering with news of the impact of state budget cuts on our programs. Of course, it’s not only public information departments who have been affected, but it raises the age-old question: Who is going to explain to the media, employees and others what is going on if there are too few information professionals? Arghh. I try to remember that this, too, will pass. When we do meet in July, I will share with you the news and work progress that the ACI Board has kept moving throughout the winter. We've had two conference calls, very well "attended" (in April, two calls from a turkey blind) and I am pleased the Board will be picking up business three (not twelve) months old - another first for ACI. I hope you've been pleased with the new "look and feel" and delivery method of The Balance Wheel. Our editor Michelle won't be able to join us in July but hopes to in future. And kudos to our webmaster, Nancy Herron. If you haven't visited lately, click on. www.aci-net.org. It's outstanding. See you soon, “pardners”. If you can’t come to this
year’s conference, we'll keep the light on for ya. |
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