I am very pleased to announce the selection of CCDAA’s first ever Executive Director (ED), Nina Buthee. Nina is presently an active CCDAA member, a Northern Section Board Member and collaborates regularly with some our sister organizations i.e. CDPI and CAPPA. She will resign her position on the Northern Section Board. Nina will begin her full time position as CCDAA’s ED on August 1, 2005.

Nina is the current Associate Development Director for the Professional Association of Childhood Education (PACE) where she has managed and overseen growing PACE’s membership by 185%. Nina has helped expand statewide efforts to develop non-dues revenue income through one-day seminars, and increased vendor sponsorship at meetings and conferences. With PACE Nina has been responsible for maintaining and producing material for association membership and distributing communication to members regarding key news and legislative updates. Nina has helped prepare yearly budget and financial information, including reconciling accounts and accounts payable. Nina has trained staff on the day-to-day general operations of the association, and written operational polices/procedures manuals.

Nina has worked as a free lance grant writer. She has trained and assisted other grant writers in writing proposals. Nina knows how to research foundations and how to solicit supplemental support.

Your State Board has planned a retreat for June 24, 2005 to specifically address the protocol of how State Board and our ED (Nina) will work together. State Board has been discussing this protocol within our meetings since January 2005; this retreat will make clearer those protocol expectations. Retreat discussion will speak to Sacramento office space as well. Where will the space be, how big will the space be? Who will staff the space, what hours, what days? How will the space be furnished?

Your State Board believes Nina’s knowledge, experience, ability and personality will move CCDAA to higher level of effectiveness and efficiency in addressing the issues affecting California’s children. Nina will speak to our membership at CCDAA’s June 10th, 2005 Statewide Meeting in San Diego. Won’t you come, hear and meet Nina? You’ll be glad you did.

Sincerely,

Bruce Ramét
State President