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AssociationHighlights An Extraordinary Leader Steps in at the Right Time President Stephen McGarry. The FEDA Executive Committee reviewed its options and chose to look to Jim Hanson, a recent past FEDA president, to keep FEDA moving forward until the followingMarch of 2012,when the next set of Executive Committee elections would be held. This gave Brad Wasserstrom, FEDA Vice President, the needed time to fully prepare for his own FEDA presidency and administra- tion goals. During the past 10 months, Jim T Ray Herrick Executive Vice President ray@feda.com Hanson has served theAssociationmem- bership as FEDA President with tremen- dous enthusiasm, energy, wisdom and dedication. The membership and its leadership owe Jim a huge debt of grat- itude for his extraordinary contribution at a crucial moment in time when FEDA urgently needed him.The following is a summary of what has been accom- plished and initiated during Jim's 10- month return to the FEDA presidency. Under Jim's leadership and direction, FEDA coordinated the efforts of the major industry associations and buying groups to fund Patti Morrow at IDPC and her efforts to protect your right to do design work. She has kept our members informed on this dangerous and harmful legislation state by state, as well as pro- vided information on who to contact in each state to voice your opinion. Wherever Patti testifies,we tend to win. She has been a significant asset on our side that we just can't afford to lose. FEDA News & Views magazine is nowsent in digital format to the key contact at each FEDA member firm to pass on to their key staff. The bot- 8 FEDA News & Views hese past 10 months have been a whirlwind of activity since the unexpected retirement of FEDA tomline ismoremembers and their key staff now have the opportunity to learn from the great dealer-focused articles in News &Views Jim continued to be an advocate for MAP & MRP and the dealer viewpoint in News &Views magazine. With the leadership of Convention Chair Mason Greene andAssistant Chair Joe Schmitt,we have another great con- vention planned in March 2012. In response to your feedback, we've freshened up the Convention for- mat this time with the New Think Tank Session, which will allow for more time to networkwithmore people within the channel. The 2011 Profit Survey had great participation and we are conducting a Compensation Survey in early 2012. Our three yearly teleconference sales training seminars continue to be very popular. FEDA's Education Foundation awarded 18 dealer scholarships to the University of Industrial Distri- bution and we began to offer scholar- ships for ServSafe and CFSP in 2012. Not bad for 10 months! Congratula- tions Jim and thank you for being an extraordinary FEDA President! u