January 2010

Greetings Maryland Government Relations Association Members and Friends:

I hope everyone had a great holiday and is ready for the New Year ahead!

What an exciting time as we celebrate past successes and look forward to the upcoming year. I’m honored to lead the charge as your president because I’m so passionate about this organization. I’ve been fortunate to have been involved with MGRA in so many different capacities, and through these experiences; I truly see the value of this organization and what it stands for. My vision for this year is to bring to the forefront many current and new opportunities to our members and increase the value of MGRA.

Now, more than ever, everyone is limited on time and resources so it’s crucial that we prioritize our goals and maximize our time. Our involvement in MGRA is a significant investment in ourselves and our careers. It’s important, particularly during these times, to stay connected within our profession and continue to improve our skills and talents. That’s why we’re focusing on providing you with unprecedented networking opportunities.

Our chapter has been blessed with great leadership over the years that have paved the way for the rest of us. This past year was no exception. I had the privilege and the honor of working with Tina Bjarekull, a great leader, a trusted colleague and a compassionate friend. Again, I would like to thank Tina and her 2007-2009 Board for providing us with the stepping stone to the next level of organizational excellence.

This year, I have the privilege of working with yet another team of equally passionate, dedicated and honorable leaders. These individuals have graciously volunteered their time and talents for the continued success of our organization and members. I am certain that this mix of veterans and newcomers will present many new and exciting ideas that we will have an opportunity to implement. At this time, I welcome your 2009-2011 Board of Directors:

• 1st Vice President, Bill Castelli
• 2nd Vice President, Len Lucchi
• Treasurer, Candace Donoho
• Secretary, Joel Rozner
• Parliamentarian, J. William Pitcher
• Immediate Past President, Tina Bjarekull
• Election Project Chair, Jason Groves
• Second Term Directors: Denise Matricciani, Van Mitchell, Alex Nunez, Tim Perry, and John Woolums
• First Term Directors: Kisha Brown, Sandy Dodson, Jerry Pasternak, and Julia Worcester

Together, we are going to work diligently towards our vision and reaching a common goal of enhancing our profession and this organization of talented government relations professionals.

Truly yours,
I. Vanessa Purnell