Dear Colleagues, I am writing this letter to update you on our Professional Development Seminar Coordination meeting held earlier today at Fresno State. As of date, we have 16 confirmed attendees. As seminar chair, I am putting out a challenge to the entire chapter to show support for this annual event. Our chapter voted earlier in the year to move this year's PDS to October and as it stands, we all need to stand together to ensure that our actions speak louder than our words. PDS is an excellent opportunity for TRIO professionals and other equity professionals to gather in a setting that allows them to share their knowledge, skill, expertise both with long term and new colleagues. The workshops being planned are carefully solicited to provide the most up-to-date, and useful information for each participant. I am currently working in my regular position as a ETS counselor, taking 13 units in graduate school, and ensuring that my (2) boys and husband see their mommy every now and then. I can surely appreciate when someone tells me that they are busy, but there are times when we need to sacrafice for the greater good. I challenge you all to support your chapter endeavors and look to this event as a way to support the TRIO fight. With this said, there are two main things I would like to see happen between now and before the week-end ends: First, book your room by going to our CenCal website at www.centralcal.org. Click on PDS 2008 to find the link to book your room at a great rate. Second, a registration form will be sent out shortly on the listserv and posted on our website for you to forward to Carrie our treasurer at CSU, Monterey Bay to track your registration payment. Remember, Early Bird deadline is September 12th. Please show your support also in the areas of buying an ad for our program, contributing items for our silent auction, volunteering to be a moderator, and submitting workshop proposals. The deadline for proposals is September 19th. Feel free to contact me via email on by phone at (559) 278-2271 during the week if you have further questions. I look forward to seeing you all in beautiful wine country very soon! Sincerely, Wendy "Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." -Conrad Hilton