It is hard to believe, but I’m already 9 months into my Directorship. From this point of view, I’m not even halfway through the tunnel. In this short time it has been quite busy in the Region and the Institute. I share with you a baby picture (I'm the little one in my Mom's arms and the year is 1965), to reflect on my youthful beginning as your Institute Director.

The Region
This fiscal year, Dallas celebrated its 50th anniversary and to kick off the celebration the South Central Region held the conference in Dallas. Dick Robinson, FCSI did a fantastic job pulling the event together.  This was more than just another Region Conference. The event started off with a great round of golf and ended the day with the notorious Hospitality Suite. If you stayed up late enough, you found night owls playing in a friendly game of poker. The next day it was time to get down to business, with a day of Technical Seminars, not just for the professionals but also seminars for the industry members. Also, this year the student competition made a point of having them work the product show and to be involve with all of the attendees. And this Conference was well attended, with over 100 showing up on Friday. Saturday focused on Leadership training based around the book “Gung Ho”. If you have not had a chance, I encourage you to pick up this book; it is really inspirational in challenging everyone to take ownership and pride in what they do. As they say all work and no play… The Dallas Chapter hosted events which included Shopping at the Galleria, Jazz in the Park, and Rough Rider Baseball.

To help establish a direction for the Chapters and the Region we held our annual Planning Retreat. Each Chapter set a goal to accomplish by next October. But none of this is expected to be done alone. The Region is here for the chapters and to raise the bar, the Region also set goals.  Here is a summary of what to see over the next 6 months.

• Speakers List available on the web
• Region & Chapter Roster of leaders on the web
• Leadership Training at SCR Conference, to bring focus back on training the leaders of Region
• Exhibitor List on the web for Chapter Product shows
• Student Assist List – continuing to build on strengthening our search for “young blood” involvement
• Region Calendar on Web to include Chapter Meetings, Product Shows and Special Events

Did you notice a theme? That’s right a web site that is useful to the Chapters and the membership.  Brian Gardiner and I have spent the last year getting the domain back, setting up the server and making this a place to go. When we started this, I had no idea that I would become your next Institute Director. I was in charge of publications and the web site. I like to finish what I start and this day has finally come. With a new backend, it will make keeping the site up to date even easier. I look forward to finally turning the reigns over tour your new Webmaster, Di Ann Hassloch.

The Institute
The past few months has been a roller coaster ride for the Institute. Unless you have been on some remote Tropical Island, you have heard about the proposal by the Board to change the Governance. Any change to the bylaws takes a 2/3 vote by the membership to pass. This election brought over 4,000 members to voice what they wanted. With a majority of the membership (just over 60%) agreed with the board to make a change. It fell 6% shy of passing. So where does this leave the change? That is question that I get asked more than any other. At this time no decision has been made if it needs to be reworked from all of the member input or laid to rest. I can assure you one thing, as information comes to board, the South Central Region will have a say in it.

Last but not least, I hope to see a strong showing from the South Central Region at the 51st Annual CSI Show and Convention. Mark your calendars and book your reservations for an exciting time in Baltimore, June 20 to 22. This promises to be a great time recapturing the “Classic” convention while still looking forward.

And now for something completely different…
Pine, spruce, or other evergreen wood should never be used in barbecues. These woods, when burning or smoking, can add harmful tar and resins to the food. Only hardwoods should be used for smoking and grilling, such as oak, pecan, hickory, maple, cherry, alder, apple, or mesquite, depending on the type of meat being cooked.