I’m writing this article during my lunch break the last day in the office before Thanksgiving.  The creative juices don’t seem to be flowing freely just yet.  Maybe they would flow a little easier if my thoughts were not about the upcoming holiday and couple of days off, but rather focusing on our many blessings and what we have done in TxPPA our first year as an association.

You do realize, we are about to have our first birthday.  That’s right; on January 1, 2009, we will be officially one year old as the first statewide Public Purchasing Association in Texas.  In that regard, our membership stands at five hundred forty (540) paid charter members…far short of our one thousand (1,000) member goal, yet unbelievable for our first year as an association.  For those that did not believe this was possible, thanks to each and every one of the charter members for helping to make it a reality.  That alone tells me that we have more work to do to reach our ultimate goal.

Our new membership chair, Frank Ybaro, Collin County Purchasing Agent and TxPPA board member, has already begun a more aggressive approach to increase our membership for next year.  Spread the word and help him with this task.  Each of you will receive in the mail very shortly a 2009 dues statement, TxPPA flyer for our Austin 2009 Legislative Workshop, and an updated membership directory.  When you look at the membership directory put together by TxPPA Secretary Kay Foster, DFW Airport Board Purchasing Manager, look at the school districts, cities, universities and counties near you and invite them to join our association.  Each of you taking the time to do just that doubles our chances for membership increases in no time at all.

Those of you that took the time to attend our fall workshop in Odessa, Texas, in early November were not disappointed in the least.  Once again, that workshop was simply outstanding!  The hotel, food, fellowship, networking, and speakers were awesome, as one of my attending staff buyers so aptly phrased it.  Narita Holmes, Bob Venable, Kenneth Lind, and all you other West Texas folks, certainly know how to put on a show.  It kind of sets the benchmark for College Station to measure up to next November.  The most noticeable thing to me, having been to too many of these type functions to mention, is that you could actually feel the networking and friendship being made as soon as you walked in our meeting room the first day.  Now that’s what we are all about!

Other benchmarks worth mentioning include our incredibly active Listserv process, the addition of three (3) new annual TxPPA sponsors, three (3) formal presentations to counties from Beth Fleming, Denton County, and our Special Assistance Committee, a weekly updated Website, excellent work from most of our committee chairs/members, and a gradual increase in our overall membership!

As you can see by now, so much has been done by so many in such a short period of time.  Although these are very difficult times for many people, we are truly blessed in so many ways.  We have been so successful with what we have all accomplished so far.  The sky is truly the limit in regards to where we can take this new association.

Take advantage of our educational opportunities, stay active, remain enthusiastic as members, and tell the TxPPA story to those around you.  This is our association, so let’s set the benchmark for where and what we want it to be.

The officers and your board of directors are honored to serve our association.

See you in Austin in January!