Greetings Everyone!
Summer has passed and we are heading into Fall with all of the attendant scheduling issues, both personal and professional. Unfortunately this year, we all face the uncertainty of budget cutbacks, potential layoffs and shrinking training budgets. However, whenever times seem darkest there is usually a silver lining somewhere. In the training community, I see the silver lining as the Master Instructor Association.

The skills and experiences each Master Instructor brings to the table are considerable. Our knowledge of Instructional Systems Design, our expertise with designing solid learning activities that enable students to meet learning objectives and our individual and collective creativity are what makes us true facilitators of learning and sets us apart from traditional instructors. Now is the time for us to use our powers for good and continue to deliver quality, student-centered “Big Rocks” training to our students. We must strive to find ways to continue on with the mission originally handed to us by ACR 58 all those years ago.

You’ll notice a couple of changes on the website. We’ve added the MICC logo to honor the graduated members of MICC Class #1. One of those individuals, Marisa Messier of UC Davis PD, has been appointed to serve in the position of Association Secretary. Marisa volunteered for the position at the 2009 Instructor Symposium and the Board is grateful for her willingness to get involved. For those of us immersed in the Incident Command System, you’ll know why I am so happy as, under ICS, if a position is vacant then the next higher individual in the ICS structure has to do the work of the vacant position. So Marisa, thank you, thank you, thank you for volunteering!

I also want to remind everyone about Training Jacket. This morning I did an interview with an author who is preparing an article about Training Jacket and the agencies and organizations using it. Training Jacket is new to many of you so I encourage you to use it if you already registered and to register if you haven’t done so. I hope to have more information posted about the pending article in a few weeks.

That’s the latest update for now. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me or any Board member if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.
Respectfully,

Lee Steitz
President
California Master Instructor Association