Jeff Siskind
Chair, 2007-2008I am honored to serve as your Southern Region Chair during the 2007-2008 year; I welcome you to our ACA-Southern Region website! Our upcoming Leadership Development Conference promises to offer you a most inspiring and informative experience; consider joining us. Designed with the theme, Cherishing our Past; Envisioning our Future, the conference will be held in historic Williamsburg, Virginia beginning Thursday, October 18, 2007 and concluding Sunday, October 21, 2007. Registration information will be posted shortly.

Who is a member of ACA-Southern Region? If you're an ACA member in any of our southeastern states, you're automatically considered a member! These states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, as well as Latin America. Georgia and Latin America don't have active state branches; one of our goals for the forthcoming year is to help reactivate these state branches. If you're a branch member who lives in one of these areas and you are interested in to help reactivate your branch, please contact me at either jeff_siskind@scps.k12.fl.us or jeff_siskind@bellsouth.net.

What are our other ACA-Southern Region goals for the year? In keeping with our purpose, this year's goals include:

• Offering our branch leaders and interested branch members our traditional fall leadership conference which will include:
  1. Conference professional development sessions specifically chosen and designed to enhance state branch leaders' knowledge and skills.
  2. An inspiring, motivating speaker.
  3. Opportunities for Southern Region branch leaders and conference participants to review, reflect upon, and refine our region's operating procedures and practices.
  4. Training to educate and support our region's emerging branch leaders
  5. A chance to network with leaders and members from other state branches
  6. A number of content sessions specifically focused on the 'next generation of counselors' combined with strategies for marketing and membership recruitment and retention.
  7. Activities specifically oriented for fun! Although our branch leaders are hard-working, we believe they must also experience joy in their tenure!
• Serving as a liaison between ACA and our respective state branches; ensuring that timely communication occurs both to and from our state branches and ACA.
• Advising, providing input, and supporting our ACA Governing Council Representative, Nita Jones.
• Informing our Southern Region branch leaders and members about our activities through the continual updating of our regional website.
• Offering information, leadership, and support to branches seeking assistance.
• Mentoring and supporting our Southern Region emerging leaders throughout the year.
• Facilitating on-going communication among our respective branch leaders.
• Ensuring that all Southern Region leaders and members have an active voice in the direction of our region as well as ACA.
• Having Southern Region serve as a model of effective leadership for our respective state branches.

The forthcoming year promises to be a dynamic and exciting one as we celebrate our Southern Region traditions and envision our future! Get involved, come to the leadership development conference in Williamsburg, and join us in the experience!

The Southern Region also maintains a separate website located at: http://www.wefixfamilies.com/ACASR/southern_region.htm