Welcome

I am delighted to invite you to NASDSE’s 72^nd Annual Business Meeting and Conference that will take place October 17-20, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Marriott City Center hotel. The conference theme, We’re Better Together: Leadership through the Practice of Community, says it all. The emphasis on inclusive education means that we must figure out how to break down the silos that have separated general and special educators for far too long. The focus of NASDSE’s IDEA Partnership for the past 11 years has been on working together on stakeholder-identified issues in communities of practices. We HAVE broken down the silos. Our partners are going to join us at the conference and we’re going to talk and learn from one another about how to continue this successful work when we go back home to our states and drive those successes down to the local district and school building levels.

I urge all state directors to arrive in Salt Lake City in time to attend NASDSE’s Annual Business Meeting for state directors (or your designee) that will take place on Saturday, October 17^th beginning at 11:30 a.m. with lunch. The business meeting not only provides a report on the state of NASDSE, but in addition, it affords you the singular opportunity to meet just with your colleagues to have a private conversation about your most pressing issues and plan follow-up activities to address them. In addition, NASDSE’s Board of Directors will be asking for your feedback on a draft of NASDSE’s new strategic action plan.

At the close of the business meeting, we will once again have our Sponsor Showcases and our opening reception honoring new state directors. I encourage all other conference attendees to join us in time to participate in these two traditional NASDSE conference events.

The time we spend together in Salt Lake City will provide you with opportunities for both formal and informal discussions, food for thought and nourishment, and a host of networking opportunities in a beautiful setting. Come prepared to participate in a wide variety of activities, including our traditional – but always different -- Silent Auction and State Night.

Dress for the conference is business casual (bring your walking shoes!!) except for our installation and awards ceremony where you can dress up to match the beautiful setting where it will take place.

For those of you attending your first NASDSE conference, you are in for a treat. NASDSE’s conference is not just another meeting. You will immediately become part of the ‘NASDSE family’ – and you will quickly see why a NASDSE conference feels more like a family reunion (where you just happen to learn a lot) than a business conference.

I look forward to seeing you and to sharing this wonderful opportunity with you.

Mary Watson

NASDSE President