Big shout out to the OPRA staff for putting on one damn good conference.  I personally thought that the sessions were outstanding!

A special thanks to Than and Trish.  Than you raised the level of our relationship with our elected officials up five levels!  I’m not sure how our membership didn’t walk away being impressed.   Trish, thanks for outstanding leadership on the Search Committee.  I can’t wait to see who you present to the Executive Committee!  Very exciting.

I for one can’t wait to complete our Board responsibility to hire our next leader.  He or she will be coming into OPRA with excellent staff, a supportive Board and a fired up membership.

Anita, we couldn’t have gotten through this without you.  For someone not interested in a leadership position, you continue to show great leadership during this transition.  Thank you!

Hopefully folks we will have an offer accepted by our next leader within the next two weeks.  That’s the Executive Committee’s goal.

On a personal note, I can’t wait to dial it down a bit.  Not sure when my time as Chair is over, but when it comes up I don’t plan on my name being on the slate... so someone start thinking!  I look forward to going back to be being a Board member and representing my district and OPRA on my favorite DODD Committee the Waiver Workgroup and teaching OPRA Advance.  That’s my hope and intention.   So to those who envision different Board leadership, there is something to look forward to:)

Such an exciting time!  I can’t wait for OPRA’s future!

Jamie

From the phone of:
James W. Steele, MSW
Executive Director
Ohio Valley Residential Services
2261 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 45206
513-281-6800 x102
513-200-3695