IGA President Message

Another Illinois Guardianship year is underway and I am very honored to be the President of IGA. Many thanks to last year’s President, Bill Scheidemantel for his capable leadership of the association as well as the hard work of the IGA board members. Congratulations to the other newly elected officers and board members of IGA. I look forward to a productive year in 2007-08.

After two successful fee conferences, one in Chicago and one in Mt. Vernon, the leadership of IGA has decided to hold a joint conference in conjunction with the National Guardianship Association in Chicago in the spring of 2008. A great deal of effort will be generated this year to make this event a reality. Speaking of the NGA, as has been the practice for the last several years, IGA will hope to send a representative to the NGA Annual Conference coming up this fall in San Antonio.

The IGA Board will be holding four board meetings in 2007-08, the first one to be conducted on July 12th. In addition to the ongoing board committees - Community Education& Training, By-Laws & Standards, Legislation, Finance & Membership, Newsletter, Website and Nominating, a new Committee is being organized to look at the current Public Guardian system in Illinois and formulate suggestions for improving the system. Several members have already agreed to serve on this committee, but if others are interested, please contact me.

Special thanks to Bill Scheidemantel and Gina Rossi for their efforts at producing newsletters for the association. If any members have relevant material for an upcoming newsletter, or would like to submit advertising for the newsletter, please contact Gina at Gina.Rossi@illinois.gov .

My goal for the year is to make the association a valuable enterprise for current members and to reach out to potential new members. Current members need to pass the word about IGA to those who could benefit from being a part of the association. I also urge members to contact me with their suggestions, questions or concerns. My e-mail is: erbes@siu.edu .

 

 

John F. Erbes
President, IGA
Associate Clinical Professor
Southern Illinois University School of Law