We finally have some fall weather in DC. The leaves are starting to change, the nights are getting cooler and I’m starting to wonder if I remember how to scrape frost off my windshield. By the time this comes out, the World Series will be settled and either my new city – DC – or my old city – Houston – will be celebrating (I’ll buy a shirt to brag either way). Luckily there is no NFL in DC to distract us.
We are also getting ready for our fall board meeting that will be in DC just before Thanksgiving. The fall meeting is where we review the budget for next year, present our sales and marketing plans and share other important items (e.g. new programs) we are working on. URAC is fortunate that we have board members with varied backgrounds who support our work and help us to connect to other groups for learning and sales opportunities. Our board also approves all our work on new products and serves as the independent body to approve our standards for every program and every accreditation. We continue to work with them to be our “ambassadors” to their home organizations and the health care field in general. We can always use more friends in our work.
We try to hold our fall board meeting in DC each year; next year we are planning on having it in our new space our building. The plans for the new space include a large meeting room that we will use for multiple meetings throughout the year, including board meetings.
I want to take this opportunity to appreciate our “road warriors” who travel as part of their work for URAC. When I worked as a consultant, I remember the wear and tear that traveling brings and I just wanted to say, “Thank you. I appreciate the miles, hotels and bad meals that you experience doing your jobs. URAC wouldn’t have an impact without you.” I’m headed out in a few weeks for a customer visit and I expect to hear good things about the people they work with from URAC.
As we wrap up this year, I hope you have holidays and gatherings you are looking forward to and there will times you can rest and recharge after this year you survived dealing with the new CEO. I hope you all get your flu shots if you haven’t already.
As always, I’m here if you need me – sgriffin@urac.org or 281-750-5078 for my cell phone. If you call my cell and I don’t have you in my contacts it will roll to voice mail, since I get 12 bajillion calls each day trying to sell me gutter guards or vehicle warranties, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you
