"Deciding what to talk about in this end of the year newsletter has been impacted by significant developments in the field of vocational evaluation and assessment, and most recently, by a computer glitch that locked up my system!  Although my feelings toward VISTA and my computer are foremost in my mind at the moment, there are much more important things to address! 

This is been an eventful year.  Not all the events have been positive, however everything that has taken place has created opportunities that could prove to be positive developments for VEWAA and the field.  

The news this fall that that CCWAVES, the Commission on Certification of Work Adjustment and Vocational Evaluation Specialists, was forced to make the decision to dissolve the organization has led to many questions about certification and the overall health of the field.  Learning more about this decision and implications that this may have on the field is important.  You are encouraged to read “Thoughts on the CCWAVES Situation” that is available at http://www.vewaa.com/profdev/CCWAVES_VEWAA-position.htm.   New developments have recently taken place that should ensure that existing certificants will be able to maintain their certification.  Questions still remain however as to how future certification of vocational evaluation specialists will be handled.  

            An exciting development this year for VEWAA has been the selection of new editors for the VEWAA Journal.  Michael Millington and Alan Lott have proposed a number of excellent suggestions that will be seen in the coming year.  One in particular is a move for the journal to an online format to increase dissemination capability and facilitate access to information.  Access to information will be enhanced even more through cooperative activities with the National Clearinghouse on Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) that will make archived materials from the University of Wisconsin-Stout readily available.

            Recent developments in the National Rehabilitation Association are noteworthy.  Beverlee Stafford has been selected as the new NRA Executive Director and will be starting in January.  Beverlee brings excellent experience to the NRA office and we look forward to her leadership.  VEWAA extends it’s appreciation for the fine job that Patricia Leahy has done as Interim Executive Director and to the staff in the NRA office during this challenging year.

The National Issues Forum that is coming up again in 2009 is an opportunity to work with VECAP again with this important event.  From April 26-29, the 2009 National Issues Forum in Vocational Evaluation and Assessment will be held at the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest, Oklahoma. The theme of the 2009 conference is “Finding Your Career Path Through the Lifecycle”.   VEWAA has agreed to identify and sponsor one of the plenary presentations.  For more information on the Forum check out http://www.vecap.org. 

 Partnership and Collaboration

If there has been a theme for what VEWAA has attempted to do this past year it is partnership and collaboration.   The need to work cooperatively with other groups and organizations involved with vocational evaluation, career assessment and adjustment services has never been more important that it is today.  VECAP, the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professions association, in particular, is one that VEWAA has and should continue to work closely with.  Reduction in membership and limited resources in VECAP and VEWAA, as well as almost all professional associations, provide even more impetus to find ways to share resources and work together.  The issues and challenges facing the field cannot be addressed effectively in a fragmented, piece meal fashion. 

Strategic Plan

VEWAA has developed a strategic planning document that is posted on the VEWAA website (http://www.vewaa.com).   This working document will continue to change and respond to new developments in the field.  The strategic plan will help to provide direction so that VEWAA can move ahead in a proactive, rather than a reactive manner.  Input from the VEWAA membership is essential and we encourage and welcome all input. 

2009 VEWAA Elections

Enclosed you will find a ballot of candidates for officers and Board of Director positions for 2009.  There is an excellent slate of candidates who will join incoming president Shawn Zimmerman to form a new leadership team.  Please remember to return your ballot no later than 12/31/08. 

Get Involved

It has been an honor to have served as president of VEWAA this year.  Involvement in professional associations has always been important.  Unfortunately, in the past I did what so many others have done and that was to become inactive for a period of time and even fail to maintain my membership in VEWAA for a few years.  The decision to get more involved again was for me personally a good one.  If you are not already active and involved at the local, state or national level, it could be good for you as well.     

I have been fortunate to have known and worked with many of the early leaders in the field, some of whom like Paul Hoffman, Walt Pruitt, Henry Redkey and Dick Baker are no longer with us today.  Their legacy and the contributions of so many others who are still active in the field depend on each of us to be involved in some way.  The future of VEWAA and the fields of vocational evaluation, career assessment and adjustment services rest with us.  This is more true now than it ever has been.  Without adapting and changing, it is very likely that professions such as vocational evaluation and professional associations such as VEWAA and VECAP will be passed over and risk losing their relevance.  Moving forward and doing effective succession planning is critical to all organizations and associations. 

I look forward to remaining active and involved with VEWAA and to make whatever contributions I can to assist Shawn Zimmerman and the new VEWAA leadership to move forward to new heights.