Talking Stick - January/February 2015 - 8

VISION

Setting a Strategic Course
Imagine having the future laid out in front of you. It is an awesome task to think
about how to shape what the next year, let alone the next half decade, may bring to our
profession. But that is exactly what the Executive Board is doing for ACUHO-I as we
create our latest strategic plan.
We are assisted by an outside consultant and armed with focus group results
from key stakeholders, the responses of a membership survey, and data collected in
evaluations from various conferences and other services. Meanwhile,
I continue to have one-on-one phone calls with at least one member
institution each day. All together, the data provides clear themes about
what the membership believes are the important issues and needed
services.

WE WANT
All MEMBERS
TO SHARE
COMMENTS ON
THE PROCESS
AS IT UNFOlDS,
AS THIS PlAN
IS UlTIMATElY
CREATINg AN
ASSOCIATION
THAT MEETS
YOUR NEEDS.

talking Stick
Symbol of International
Friendship
Talking Stick magazine
takes its name from the
symbol of international
friendship presented
to ACUHO-I in 1973 by
the Ohiat Band of the
British Columbia Indian
Nation. The talking stick,
or speaker's staff, is
hand carved, and the
inscription explains: "It is
a sign of authority carried
when proclamations
are to be made or a
meeting of chiefs is in
session. It is a token
of common heritage
both to Canadians and
Americans."

The Executive Board and the ACUHO-I Foundation Board spent
time together in Columbus last October to discuss our vision and
mission for the association. The conversations were lively, and it was
an excellent opportunity for the two boards to work together. Thanks to
former leaders who made wise decisions and shepherded our financial
resources so well, we have the ability to think boldly about our future
and be creative in identifying next steps.
In the coming months the Executive Board will meet again to
create goals and objectives that will bring to life the plan's vision and
mission. These outcomes will be the focus of products, services, and
connections for our members. As we move forward we will share
our progress, as well as some of the data that drove our decisions, in
various forms online. We want all members to share comments on the
process as it unfolds, as this plan is ultimately creating an association
that meets your needs. Keeping the plan living and flexible is important
as there are numerous issues that impact campuses every day, so
allowing for nimbleness to add evolving new initiatives will also be
critical to our success.

On behalf of the board, I invite you to review information as
it is posted on the website and provide feedback. Only through a
transparent process that engages our members can this be successful.
RESIDENCE HALL
As a volunteer organization we rely on your insights and suggestions but, more
PROGRAM
important, your willingness to assist in contributing the content knowledge and your
expertise in serving on the workgroups to respond to each goal. Thinking through
how you and your institution can contribute to the betterment of our profession is
paramount in the process.

On THE
cOvEr
Marketing Matters
Fostering productive
partnerships

EARN MONEY FOR YOUR SCHOOL WITH
GREAT PRODUCTS FOR YOUR STUDENTS

January + February 2015 | Volume 32, Number 3
published by the Association of College and University
Housing Officers - International

For more information please call: 888-837-4888
Cover.indd 3

Tom Ellett
ACUHO-I President
 Te13@nyu.edu
 @TeEllett

8

TAlkiNg STick

Buchanan Hall is
a building on Iowa
State's campus
that will be getting
a neighbor soon.
Final approval
was given to build
another residence
hall adjacent to
Buchanan that will
provide a minimum
of 700 beds. Based
on feedback from
their students, the
building will not be
suite-style.
Photo Credit:
Iowa State University

12/30/14 2:18 PM
Talking Stick - January/February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - January/February 2015
