| VPEA has Grown to be the Eastern Professional Electronics Association |
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During meetings at the VPEA convention and Mid-Atlantic Conference last June, VPEA (Virginia Professional Electronics Association) quietly slipped out of its cocoon and morphed in EPEA -- the Eastern Professional Electronics Association. The change was sudden, but the process has been ongoing for many years, starting when the organization was still called the Virginia Electronics Association (VEA). Over the years, VEA/VPEA has reached outside their initially designated area to accept members from adjoining territory. In the 1960s, a servicer joined from just across the border in northern North Carolina. He later went on to become president of the local affiliate, VEA-Tidewater. Others came from Carolina and the neighboring District of Columbia, and then Maryland. Eventually, with the growing success of the educationally themed convention, and the change of its name and focus to the Mid-Atlantic Conference, new members trickled in from other, non-border states. Members from North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware rose to the presidency of the "Virginia" association. Other members and contributors came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida. With that influx of members and talent, the state borders could no longer contain the organization. More than five years ago, VPEA leaders saw the need that other industry members on the east coast had for professional education and industry representation. Thus, the seed was planted for VPEA to expand its boundaries along the Eastern Seaboard. After a few failed starts, some reluctant members were won over, and concrete plans got underway. Ultimately, the VPEA membership empowered the Board to draw up plans and implement a new regional association in the eastern part of the United States.. The association's bylaws were carefully reconstructed to maintain the character of the 54-year-old organization while easing its transition into a larger territory. Most importantly, throughout the process, our officers maintained close contact with the national association, NESDA. VPEA members wanted to continue our mutually respectful and beneficial relationship with NESDA, and continue as a respected Associate organization. We also wanted to assure NESDA that no one in our association had any aspirations to compete with NESDA on the national stage. At the board meeting following the 2009 VPEA convention in June, the bylaws, the name change, and the new logo were approved, and the Eastern Professional Electronics Association became a reality. The following month, NESDA accepted EPEA as an Associate organization in good standing. For members of VPEA who are current members of EPEA, there is no apparent change other than the name. This self-service association will continue to provide the same services, including the conduct of the Mid-Atlantic Conference. In future editions of the EPEA Reporter, we will outline what the changes may mean to service industry professionals within our new area of responsibility. |