ABEC Annual Membership Meeting Minutes - June 2, 2008

I. The Arizona Business & Education Coalition (ABEC) held its 2008 annual membership meeting at the Orange Tree Golf Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona on Monday, June 2nd.

II. Susan Carlson, executive director of ABEC, kicked off the meeting by celebrating the history of ABEC with a presentation entitled "ABEC: Our Story, 2002-2008."

III. Chuck Jirauch, president of ABEC, then presented the following awards:

• ABEC Business Partner Award: Eileen Klein, UnitedHealthcare
• ABEC Education Partner Award: Robin Berry, Palo Verde Elementary School District

Leaving the ABEC board of directors were two founding board members:

• Matt Diethelm, Arizona State Board of Education (retired)
• John Fung, Arizona Association of School Business Officials

As founding board members, both were granted Emeriti status on the ABEC board of directors.

IV. Patrick Contrades, ABEC director of projects and committees, shared the results of a recent survey of its member primary contacts. The member survey is still open; members who have not completed the survey are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. To complete the survey, click here.

V. Debra Raeder, executive director of the Governor's P-20 Council, provided an update on the Council's work to date.

VI. Following this update, members broke into table discussions to answer the following:

• What synergies exist, if any, with the P-20 Council?
• Where do we want ABEC to be in five years?
• What should the top three priorities be for ABEC?
• How can we make ABEC membership more meaningful to you and attractive to new members?
• How can we better engage members?

VII. Following the table discussions, elections were held for the 2008-2009 ABEC Leadership:

• Board of Directors
• Executive Committee
• Officers

VIII. John Stevens, former executive director, Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC), then addressed the membership during lunch and shared "lessons learned" from his experience with TBEC.