President’s Report 2012

In my year as President, I oversaw the transition of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer position from Catholic University of America to Fordham University. Rev. R. Bentley Anderson, our new ES/T was able to provide from his dean and president offers of support that far exceeded what CUA had provided. In view of increasing financial difficulties facing the ACHA, the move was both necessary and forward-looking in that we now can provide at less cost the basic operations of the association. Bentley has been instrumental in this change, taking charge de facto on July 1, to the degree he could, and officially on October 1. Numerous challenges occurred during the transition, not least of which was getting an accurate accounting of membership numbers. Our commitment to transparency and working together with our members to make this a vibrant and forward-looking association has been a key goal of my presidency, but one that will continue. I thank Bentley for his willingness and commitment to serve.

My presidency was a time of transition in other respects as well, all based on the incredible work of Fr. Steve Avella of Marquette University, my predecessor, who made clear to me that neither the presidency nor any other position in the ACHA is honorific. Every position carries responsibilities which all nominees must expect to assume if elected. I was fortunate in having such a wonderful mentor in helping me – and the Association – make the transition to the 21st century world which means largely online development. During this time, the website has evolved, not without glitches, but we hope to have all of that fixed very soon.

I feel my most important contribution was my vision of the Presidency and Vice Presidency as a position of teamwork with an active Executive Council. Too often in the past, people have been elected but not necessarily served in their various positions. When I first met with the EC in January and April 2011, we bonded as a unit, dedicated to furthering the future of the ACHA. Active commitment to service to the association must always be a foremost consideration when anyone is nominated for a position.

I know that the future will be in good hands. Tom Noble, our new president, is dedicated to continuing the work of transition, as is the new Vice President and President-Elect, Maggie McGuinness. Our new and continuing Executive Council members are determined to create an association of which all members can be proud to be a part. Developing the website further, attracting new members, and continuing the work of funding graduate travel fellowships and Presidential Awards is an essential part of our future, and I ask all of you to be part of it.

We had an unusually large and well-attended set of panels at Chicago in 2012 and I would especially like to thank the program committee, Ellen Skerrett and Malachy McCarthy, for their incredible work in making this a great year of sessions for the ACHA. We have work to do but we are making huge advances.

Many thanks to all of you for your support over the past year and I look forward to working with you in the future,

Larissa J. Taylor, President