Many of our members and staff spent part of last week at the Grand Traverse Resort for the MAISA Summer Conference. The conference was extremely productive and, as always, the Grand Traverse Resort staff was very accommodating.

In fact, it gave us an opportunity to touch base and remind them of our major MASA Fall Conference that is taking place September 23-25, 2009. They will be ready for us as will your conference planning committee.

At present, we are confirming Exhibitors as well as our presenters for break-out sessions at the New Superintendents preconference (September 22-23) and the full conference.

Working with our year-long theme of Expanding Our Circle of Influence, some of our clinics topics include:

• Crucial Conversations
• Contentious Negotiations
• MASB’s Superintendents Search Department: A new direction
• Lead Forward
• Getting a Grip on Retirement
• High Performance Schools
• Courageous Journey Orientation
• Need to Know from MSBO
• Redesigning High Schools
• More on ARRA
• Renewable Energy Products
• Grassroots in a Tech World
• Hot Legal Issues
• And much more.

You also will be able to stay in touch due to the generous offering of Sehi Computer Products as they once again provide the SEHI Business Center.

We suggest that you also start training for the Friday morning SET SEG Fun Run with Coach Chuck Miller.

Getting valuable information, taking advantage of great opportunities to network and learn from each other all in the beautiful setting of Traverse City makes the 2009 MASA Fall Conference the place to be to expand your circle of influence.