Hi VAGARA members,

It seems hard to believe that 2023 is nearly over, but as I reflect on the past several months, I can’t help but be proud of the year VAGARA has experienced.  Membership is at its highest level in several years and on behalf of the board, I would like to thank each of you for your continued support of this amazing organization. 

Thanks to all who attended the 37th annual conference in October!  Attendance was the highest we’ve seen in recent memory which made for a busy and energetic two days in Virginia Beach.  The board appreciates your participation, and we are already looking ahead to next year’s conference. We received a lot of great feedback from the conference surveys and will work to implement some of the ideas for 2024.  

The month of December means that several members will be cycling off the executive board in the coming weeks.  A big thank you to Margie Tacci (Vice President and Conference Chair), Mina Barberis (Secretary), Jonathan Tillman (Treasurer), Rachael Brinson (Member-at-Large), Nicki Taylor (Member-at-Large), and Ben Smith (Member-at-Large), and Glenn Smith (Past President) for their service to VAGARA during the last two years.  The board members for the 2024-2025 term met at the conference and are excited to get to work in January.  You can read more about the new board members later in this issue.

As 2023 ends, I’d like to wish each of you a wonderful winter season.  Great things lie ahead, and I look forward to seeing where the next year takes VAGARA. 

Happy New Year!

Jessie Graham

VAGARA President

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