Hello AMTA members,
As AMTA President, I have been able to attend two excellent MTNA Leadership Summits (2006 and 2007) in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I have been impressed with some of the changes that are going on within the national organization. If you haven't visited it already, please bookmark the website for national: http://www.mtna.org. The inclusion of Julianne Miranda to the staff of MTNA has produced an even better web site which includes, among other things, the state affiliate portals. Look for the link on the MTNA home page. In addition to our AMTA website, ably run by board member, Sally Laird, NCTM, the MTNA State Portal is another place to find information about our state as well as other states.
There was some very exciting news announced at this year's summit by Gary Ingle, MTNA Executive Director. Group health insurance may become available to the membership in the near future. I will keep you posted on the progress of this proposed addition to MTNA benefits.
In August, 2007, the AMTA board held a Leadership Retreat in Anchorage and sponsored the travel for Fairbanks President, Cheryl Knorr, and Sitka President, Jammie Wileman so that they could attend. These two leaders, along with AKTA President, Christine Kastanopolous, spent time with the AMTA board working out ways to simplify and consolidate all our efforts to effectively bring our vast state closer together.
As a result of this meeting, AKTA has offered space in its newsletter for AMTA news, as well as for IAKT (Fairbanks) and SMTA (Sitka). Also, it was agreed that the state conference location will be rotated between the three communities. Next August (2008) - approximately the third weekend - plan to attend the state conference in Fairbanks where our presenters will be Sylvia Coats, MTNA Certification Chair, and Gary Ingle, MTNA Executive Director. We hope many of you will attend and learn how to actively pursue and maintain professional certification - a truly wonderful program.
Cynthia Epperson, NCTM, AMTA President
October, 2007
