Join/Renew   Currents Newsletter   Regional Resources   Document Library   Speaker's Bureau   President's Page   Member Survey   Membership Info	President's Message January/February 2006 by Al Sieg, President It is indeed an honor, privilege and a great responsibility to become the 11th president of NANPA. My term offcially begins at the close of the 2006 Summit, but since Darrell Gulin will be unable to attend this year, I'm stepping aboard a little sooner than is customary. I can't thank Darrell enough for his inspired leadership. He has set the standard high for me to follow. Joining me on the Board of Directors are Thomas Blagden, Kathy Adams Clark, Sharon Cohen-Powers, Susan Day, Darrell Gulin (as past president), Richard Halperin, Susan McElhinney, David Murray, and executive director Francine Butler as well as two new members, Efraín Padró and Lynda Richardson. John Nuhn serves as the NANPA Foundation liaison. These are the people who make up the leadership team for NANPA in the next year and into the future. Two members of the Board will be completing their terms at the Denver Summit, Steve Maka and Deborah Free. Both have contributed greatly to the success of our organization, and we thank them for their efforts and contributions. Additionally, all of us depend greatly on our dedicated staff at the Resource Center at our headquarters in Colorado. When you see any of the above-named individuals at the Summit, stop and introduce yourself, say hello and provide them with your thoughts about NANPA's future. We need and welcome your input. NANPA cannot exist without the support of many groups and individuals. The list is long and impressive. This issue of Currents is dedicated to NANPA's sponsors who provide much-needed financial support. Let's also give special thanks to those less visible NANPA supporters who are mentioned only infrequently - the Friends of NANPA and the hundreds of volunteers who give freely of their time and talents. Check the masthead in this issue of Currents to see the extensive list of members who function as Chairs of our many committees. The committees are really the backbone of NANPA, and any member can volunteer to serve on a committee. That brings us to not the least of all the people who support NANPA - our members, be they photographers, editors, photo buyers, government or corporate members and others. Without you, NANPA would not be able to exist and to provide “The Connecting Point for Nature Photography.” When new leadership comes onboard, it is usual to ask what is your vision for the organization? I have been impressed by the progress that has been made in the last several years and certainly our goal now is to maintain and accelerate the momentum. We have seen consistent membership growth, and we need to continue in this direction. We have added considerably to the value of membership, and we intend to add more benefits. Great strides have been made in adding visual content to the Internet. A huge success this year was the Member's Showcase, where a competition offering monetary awards and publication of images from winners and runners-up helped garner nearly 2,000 entries. A selection of these will be featured at the Summit, on the NANPA website and in a printed journal entitled Expressions. Your Board continues to build on NANPA's successes. We have made progress in defining locations for future Summits, and we will continue to provide members with great value in attending. We plan to expand our Regional Events. Both Summits and Events contribute to our mission of providing education, interest and appreciation in nature photography. None of this can be accomplished without financial stability. NANPA is currently financially stable, and our goal is to continue to maintain this position. We have lots on our plate, and we are a growing organization. I look forward to serving you with all of the skills and knowledge that I possess and with the same dedication as past presidents. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Back to President's Page         Site Index       Search       Disclaimers       Contact Us   North American Nature Photography Association 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2840, USA Phone: 303-422-8527 Fax: 303-422-8894 E-mail: info@nanpa.org   © 2001 All Rights Reserved