President's Message

As the newly re-elected President of the Alabama Council on Welfare Fraud, let me first wish a very “Happy New Year” to all fellow members of ACOWF.  The year 2007 proved to be one challenging year for me, but with everyone’s help, it was nevertheless successful. I look forward to 2008 with great anticipation that we will once again achieve all that we set out to do.  And I thank God that He allows me the favor of walking the paths that I walk each day.   It’s very exciting to see the new and awesome things that each day brings. 

Our 2007 Annual Training Conference, which was held in Mobile, AL (Brookley Center), was a huge success.  The speakers were super interesting and provided each attendee with a wealth of knowledge that will hopefully be incorporated into daily lives and workplaces.  The evaluation forms that were completed by each attendee of this year’s conference reflect that ACOWF is still receiving “Excellent Ratings” for its quality of training.  We want to strive to continue to improve each aspect of the conference to insure that ACOWF maintains that level of excellence. 

On behalf of ACOWF, I would like to say a very special “Thank you” to all the workshop presenters and to commend each for the high level of knowledge in each of their specialized fields. We appreciate the time, effort, and sacrifice it takes to put a presentation together. 

I would also like to say “Thank You” for each person - Officers, Board and Committee Chairs – who worked so diligently to make sure this conference was a complete success.  And I might add that this conference would never have been successful if not for your help and hard work.  It has given me great pleasure to announce that each one that served on the committees for 2007 have also agreed to serve yet again for 2008.  And as President, let me say “Thanks” for your continued support.

On January 18, 2008, the newly elected Officers, Board and Committees Chairs met in Montgomery for our first quarterly business meeting for 2008.   It has been decided that the 2008 ACOWF Annual Training Conference will be held November 19-21, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Express in Orange Beach, AL.  The Site Selection Committee which is chaired by Gwen Smith has secured the dates for the conference with the hotel and we are a “go” for site selection.  Now we must get our program together and set our speakers in place.  Hopefully by our April meeting – we should at least have a tentative program.  If anyone has any suggestions for speakers or topics, please contact Clementine McGinnis, Charles Cook or Jim Williford. 

I want to encourage you to join ACOWF if you are not already a member.  If you need information regarding membership, please contact our membership chair – Lora Jay. 

Once again, let me say that I am excited for this upcoming year and look forward to this year’s Training Conference with great anticipation. 

Blessings for an awesome New Year!!

Theresa Harris

2008 ACOWF President

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