Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/287205
5 Spring 2014 | Connections President's Perspective As I write this column, we are well into the 2014 Legislative Session and many of you have been spending much of your time at the Capitol, working to move your associations forward through the legislative process. As executives of associations, we have a right and responsibility to educate policy makers and other government officials about issues affecting our members' businesses and professions. In fact, I would say that most of us would represent our advocacy services to our respective memberships as a key reason for belonging. In advocacy, our goal may be to simply make information about our association available or the goal may be to achieve a specific outcome on a bill or regulation. Regardless of the goal, lobbying and direct contact with state and federal policy makers are critical components in helping our association members be successful. When laws and regulations are well thought out and properly applied, they can stimulate growth and improve services to the groups our associations represent. Our MSAE Executive members represent private sector business, professional societies and trade groups, public entities, and other non-profit membership organization and our industry partners represent organizations that provide products or services to our associations. Collectively, our associations represent tens of thousands of Mississippians. We give them a voice at the Capitol! Once the 2014 Legislative Session comes to an end, the MSAE Mid-Year Conference will be upon us. Please join us April 29-May 2 in Bay St. Louis. Conference Chairman Nancy Youngblood and her committee have put together an excellent agenda of educational sessions and social events that will be fun and informative for all—especially those of us who have experienced the fast pace of the session. For me personally, the timing of the Mid-Year Conference provides motivation and new ideas at a critical time. All of the pertinent information regarding the conference can be found on pages 12 thru 17 in this issue of Connections. Hope to see you in Bay St. Louis! On April 25, 1866, women in Columbus decorated the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers in Friendship Cemetery. This gesture became known as Decoration Day, the beginning of what we observe as Memorial Day. The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the Blues, which preceded the birth of Jazz, the only other original American art form. Since 1979, the only place in the U.S. to see the International Ballet Competition has been in Mississippi. DID YOU KNOW?