This week, I officially take the reins as President of WSEMA and I couldn’t be more excited! Stepping into this role is both an honor and a responsibility I don’t want to take lightly. I’m grateful to be on this journey with all of you. My goal is simple: to keep us connected, to share important updates from across Washington and the nation, and to highlight the incredible work being done by our emergency management community.
Executive Board: I’m excited to introduce the 2025–2026 Executive Board! Thank you to this outstanding team for stepping up to guide the association forward! To see your board, visit: https://wsema.org/about-wsema/executive-board-members
2025 Conference: The 2025 WSEMA Conference presentations should be on the website under “Conference Information” next week.
A huge thank you to the Conference Committee, led by the incomparable JoAnn Boggs (aka the Queen of Conference Chaos) and co-chaired by Will Luego, for their dedication and hard work in pulling everything together. And a BIG shout-out to our all-volunteer WSEMA Board who put in countless hours to make the conference possible!
2026 Conference: Mark your calendars! The 2026 WSEMA Conference will be held at the Muckleshoot Casino, September 21-24, 2026. More info to come.
Membership: Did you renew your membership?! If not, don’t worry…we’re offering a limited-time deal: Buy one, Get one…both at regular prices! In all seriousness, we want you to stay with us. Our association is only as strong as our members and that means YOU friend!
Call for Sergeant-at-Arms: Do off-track meetings drive you a little nuts? Are you a parliamentary nerd (*said with love*)? Love a good dose of order? Then the role of Sergeant-at-Arms might be calling your name! I’m looking to appoint someone as the Sergeant-at-Arms for our membership meetings. This position will help keep our membership meetings moving smoothly, makes sure we stick to the rules, and adds just enough structure so we can focus on the fun part…connecting and sharing ideas. Interested? Reach out to me.
Treasurer: Our current Treasurer, Erika Katt, has submitted her resignation. Nothing shady here (she insists it’s not because of me!), Erika was recently named Deputy Director of Lewis County, and with her new role, her priorities have shifted. We are so grateful for her service and wish her all the best in this exciting next chapter! According to our by-laws, when a board position becomes vacant, the board has the ability to appoint someone to serve until the next election cycle (which will take place at our next conference).We are now requesting letters of interest from members who would like to be considered for the Treasurer position. Duties include responsibilities such as:
- Managing WSEMA’s financial accounts and transactions
- Preparing regular financial reports for the board and membership
- Supporting the annual budget and ensuring compliance with association policies
If interested, please submit a letter (no more than one page) by October 17th to president@wsema.org outlining your interest and any relevant experience or skills that would support you in carrying out the Treasurer’s duties. The WSEMA Board will review submissions and vote on the appointment at our October 27th board meeting.