From the Past President
***************** August 2021 Update *******************
Well, we have just finished conference and as I sit here pondering over all the education and time spent with friends. All I can think of is to say Thank You!! Thank you to Shila for leading us through the last two years. Thank you to the Education and Conference Committees for putting together an amazing conference and educational opportunity. Thank you to all the other committees for your work the past two years and mostly Thank you to our wonderful membership for trusting me to be your President this next year.
I am proud to be a part of this amazing group of hard-working individuals. My plan is to continue to work with the standards committee to add new things to the Directors handbook and to work on things to help our new Directors. I remember how hard it was my first couple years as a Director and I could not have gotten through that time without the help of others. We have always been a group that helps each other when we can and if we do not know the answer, we reach out to others to get those answers. I have always felt it was my job to help others because of the help I received. If one of us in this profession falls short, it cast a shadow on us all. Remember we are all public servants. Shila says I preach this, but it is something my predecessors taught me.
I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Department of Treasury, PSD staff and the Michigan Assessors Association to keep an open door of communication and to improve Assessment Administration in our great state. I believe communication between our organizations is critical to the future of our profession.
That leads me into the “SAVE THE DATES July 24th - July 27th, 2022”. Our next conference will be at the Drummond Island Resort on Drummond Island and our theme is going to be Pioneering into the Future. What have we learned in the past that will carry us into the future of Assessment Administration? This is an ever-changing field. The last couple years we have seen CAMA Data Standards implemented. This year we have MEG, and tomorrow will be something else. We must be prepared and there must be a plan. That will be our focus under the next year as I serve as your President. I look forward to seeing everyone there. We are already planning to have great education and some fun also. If any of you have of a topic you would like to have discussed at the Doug Stover Education Day, or any of our other education functions, feel free to reach out to me. The same if you have any questions or concerns.
And again, THANK YOU for trusting me to be your President.
Joe Porterfield