Page 7 - The Edge - Fall 2016

NATIONAL IPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NEWS & NOTES

BY DAVID LEWIS
CONTRACTS ARE

AMAZING IN ARIZONA ‘Blessings In A Backpack’ Is Just One of the

Community Programs AASBO Members Support

One of the great things about Arizona ASBO is our members’ recognized by the Department of Defense to send care packages
willingness to answer the call when it comes time to volunteer to our troops. I was so pleased to see more than 215 care packages
in service to our association. Two great examples of when this going out the door on their way to the troops – truly volunteerism
recently happened come to mind – the teamwork and volunteerism in action!
As previously announced, National IPA and TCPN have merged. demonstrated at both our Annual Conference in July and during Lastly, I would like to recognize the many talents and the
The combination of their lead agency cooperative contracting the ASBO International Annual Conference and Expo, which was dedication of our AASBO Board of Directors, who are the guiding
force behind all that we do. Please take a minute at one of our
held here in Phoenix just last month.
strategies, in addition to their strength in the state, local, higher During our Annual Conference, I am o en asked, “How many upcoming membership meetings or conferences to thank them for
education and K-12 markets will deliver an unparalleled cooperative sta does Arizona ASBO have? is is a huge conference – you their service and to learn more about a Board member’s role in
solution. As cooperative purchasing evolves, we are now poised to must have a lot of people working for AASBO!” e answer of six running AASBO. Who knows? You just may nd the inspiration
o en prompts a pretty surprised look, but it is at this time that I for your next volunteer opportunity!
better meet the needs of our participants in Arizona. mention the army of volunteers who contribute countless hours in
making it all come together. “Our efforts produced more than 200 backpacks
Starting with the Professional Development and Conference
BECOME A PARTICIPANT AND START SAVING Planning Committee, which begins meeting the previous year for a local school district, greatly increasing their
TIME AND MONEY TODAY. and lines up all of our breakout sessions and activities, to the capacity to service their community.”
Ambassador Committee, which handles numerous tasks during
the course of the week, helping to straighten out wayward rst-time
attendees and prepare conference materials, and to the numerous
Leverage the Purchasing Power of more than 45,000 actively volunteers who come to the AASBO o ces before the conference
engaged government entities. to prepare name badges, conference bags and a whole host of other
items that make our conference such a success. Without these
No Participation Fees dedicated volunteers, needless to say the six of us would be no Save preciouS diStrict dollarS utilizing
Registration is Fast and Free match for all of the tasks that need to be accomplished! The Special pay prime Choice plan
And on the question of community service, it has been equally
Contracts Publicly Solicited By A Lead Government Agency satisfying to see some new additions to our fundraising and service The Special Pay Prime Choice Plan provides a choice for payments of
projects, bearing some great results for two truly worthy causes. accumulated sick/vacation pay to retiring school district employees that will:
CONTRACT CATEGORIES INCLUDE: During our Annual Conference, volunteers committed time to w ENHANCE retiree benefits w
Athletic Automotive Parts Equipment Rental Facilities stu ng backpacks with food and other necessities as part of the w ELIMINATE constructive receipt issues w
“Blessings In A Backpack” program. “Blessings” is a nonpro t
Flooring Food Furniture Grounds Keeping and Irrigation organization that feeds school children throughout the country w ELIMINATE FICA & Medicare contributions w
Heavy Equipment HVAC Janitorial Maintenance & Operations who currently are fed during the week on the federally funded Free
Managed Print Offi ce Supplies Oracle Playground and Reduced Meal Program, but are at risk of going hungry on the
weekends and during the summer. Our e orts produced more than
Equipment Roofi ng School Supplies Technology 200 backpacks for a local school district, greatly increasing their
capacity to service their community.
As part of the “Packages From Home” program during the
OUR TEAM OF EXPERIENCED PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND
COOPERATIVE OFFICIALS ARE READY TO ASSIST YOUR AGENCY! ASBO International Conference, we teamed up with many
volunteers from around the country to provide care packages for
our service men and women stationed overseas. “Packages From
REGISTER TODAY Home” was started right here in Arizona by Kathleen Lewis as a Visit prginfo.net for more information
Go to nationalipa.org way to support her son who was serving overseas. eir primary
mission is to provide food, personal care and recreational items to
deployed American troops at no cost to them. What started out as 800-238-9101
a packing party in her garage has grown into a national nonpro t Mark Powers – Phoenix w Bruce Nelson- Tucson

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Founding Member of NCPP

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