By Chloe Merrill, Ph.D., CFLE, ACB Chair 2010-2011

Following the annual NCFR Conference, there will be a leadership change on the ACB. This is a result of a two-year rotation of officers. I will become the Past-President. I have certainly enjoyed the two years I spent on the NCFR Board of Directors and also the past two years as President of the Affiliate Councils Board. It has been exciting to see strategic plan developments and affiliate growth during that time. Thanks to everyone for their support during these past four years. There has been growth and continued effectiveness from all of the affiliates.

At the end of the 2011 NCFR Conference, Minnell Tralle will assume the role of President of the Affiliate Councils Board. The ACB will continue to change as new leadership takes office. This will lead to continual new and exciting changes for the ACB and for the affiliates.

The Affiliate Council Board has had a busy year continuing to implement strategic plans and new ideas for the regional, state, and student affiliates. Some of the activities that the Affiliate Council Board and Affiliate Councils have been involved with are highlighted below.

• Quarterly conference calls were held (February, May, August) to help meet the needs of the various affiliate councils and to get a better idea of what affiliate needs are so that NCFR can address them as best they can.
• The Affiliate Councils Board (ACB) met once a month via conference call.
• The ACB also met several times at the NCFR Annual Conference in November 2011.
• On January 8 and 9, 2011, the ACB met in Minneapolis for the third strategic planning meeting. At this meeting the board, along with NCFR staff members, mapped out plans for the Affiliate Councils and the Affiliate Councils Board

At the NCFR Annual Conference, the ACB sponsored its annual workshop entitled "Affiliates Matter: Planning for Success." The workshop keynote speakers were Deb Cashen and Susan Marsh. Also, participants learned from other affiliates in the following roundtable discussions: Planning for Success, Recruitment, Web Page Ideas, Career Paths in Family Science, and Program and Conference Ideas. Workshop participants had opportunities to interact with their peers. The annual business meeting was also held at this time.

The ACB sponsored a Friday breakfast meeting for presidents and representatives of student affiliate councils at the NCFR Annual Conference. The topic was "Bridges to Building a Successful Student/Local Affiliate."

The Affiliate Councils Board was also pleased to announce two winners of the 2011 ACB Outstanding Student Paper competition. Each NCFR Affiliate Council can submit one graduate and one undergraduate student paper to the review committee for award consideration.

This year's graduate student winner is Kimberly A. Crossman of the Illinois Student Council on Family Relations with her paper titled, "He Could Scare Me Without Laying A Hand On Me." Kimberly received a monetary award, travel stipend, an award plaque, and presented a poster session.

Michelle Burton and Andrew Chris of the Weber State Student Council on Family Relations and the Utah Council on Family Relations were the undergraduate student winners with their paper titled, "Religiosity Impacting Stepfamily Dynamics." They received a monetary award and an award plaque.

This year the ACB also sponsored the second President-For-A-Day Award. Michelle Burton from Weber State University received this award for 2011. The award recognizes a student or new professional's commitment, energy, innovation in their service to NCFR and empowers them to continue evolving their leadership role. The recipient of this award will have supported and furthered the organization's mission during their membership through previous conference volunteering, year-round service opportunities (including service to student/state/regional affiliate councils or NCFR-related university or professional activities), and overall efforts to foster community among S/NPs.

The ACB also gave four Affiliate Councils Award for Meritorious Service. This award recognizes the service of affiliate members within their local, state and regional council. This past year the recipients were:

• Marcie Rein, CFLE - Minnesota Council on Family Relations
• Dr. Richard Sale - Texas Council on Family Relations
• Dr. Paul Schvaneveldt - Weber State Student Council on Family Relations and Utah Council on Family Relations
• Dr. Jennifer Hardesty - Illinois Student Council on Family Relations.

The Affiliate Council Board would like to extend appreciation for the service that the past board members have given. As they leave the ACB for new adventures, we wish them well and want them to know that they will be called upon for their expertise in the future. These members include Dr. Richard Sale and Dr. Joanne Roberts.

New members of the ACB will be welcomed in November including Rose Allen, President-elect; Deb Cashen, program chair; and Josh Shaw, student affiliate representative (Josh actually joined us earlier this year when there was a resignation). Continuing members include Minnell Tralle, Lloyd Pickering, Dani Taylor, Chloe D. Merrill, and Lynda Bessey (NCFR staff). Please let us know how we can continue to serve you and your affiliate needs. We all look forward to working with you and continuing to move the Affiliate Councils to new heights.