May, 2008

Greetings Quest members!

So, another successful COLLABORATE conference is on the books! What a week – there was tons of education and information. It can be quite overwhelming sometimes. I hope those of you who attended had as great a time as I had. And if you weren’t able to make it, I hope you’ve already marked your calendar for May 3-7 in Orlando next year (2009) – or maybe you can make it to one of our regional events in the meantime.

Throughout this year, I’ve mentioned many times how important you are to Quest. It is simple, really – a users group thrives when its members actively participate by being on committees, serving on the Board of Directors, and attending events. A lack of participation means users groups often (and probably should) fail. Not so with Quest – I am very happy and proud to say that we are truly thriving because of your participation. In fact, during COLLABORATE, Quest held a first-ever “Get on Board” breakfast where we invited you to hear firsthand from several members of our Board of Directors what it is like to volunteer your time for Quest. This dialogue needn’t stop here – log on QuestDirect.org and take a look at the opportunities available to you. Read the ideal board candidate profile and determine the capacity in which you would like to volunteer. Then, send a short email to DeLaine Bender at delaine.bender@questdirect.org and let her know that you are ready and willing to become involved!

COLLABORATE also brought to an end the terms of some very active board members. I have had the pleasure to serve with these folks for the past few years, and will miss them tremendously. Cheryl Pierce has been volunteering her time on the board for the past six years. Cheryl has represented you well during her time. She could always be counted on to frame any board decision around the impact to members, and the result has been better services for you. Shawn Latimer is also leaving the Board. He has also served all of you well since 2004 in a variety of capacities: education chair, vendor relations chair and several other posts, always bringing his enthusiasm and intelligence to his different roles. Finally, Dave Richards, Quest’s president before me, is at the end of his term. Dave’s leadership brought us a renewed focus on strategy and ensuring our fiscal stability. Dave has been inspirational to me throughout my tenure on the board, and frequently, I’ve found myself seeking his opinions and guidance. Together, these three individuals have served Quest selflessly. It has been an honor and pleasure to work with them, and I will miss them tremendously.

Finally, I’d like to invite you all to read Quest’s Annual Report, distributed at our Meeting of the Members at COLLABORATE. The report is a yearly look at what you asked us to do, what we’ve taken on, and what we’ve accomplished so far. Needless to say, 2007 was a great year, and many of the plans we made were not only accomplished, but exceeded. Remember that your feedback and ideas for our bright future are always welcome.

In closing, remember that Quest is your organization. Stay active, and help us look for ways to improve it! 

Sincerely,

Steve McDowell
President
Quest International Users Group

CIO
Holiday Retirement