Topics have just been announced for the ACA Foundation's annual Graduate Student Essay Contest, open to all graduate students in counseling or related programs. The first place winner will receive $500, and five winning essays will appear in Counseling Today. Writers select one of two topics and submit up to 750 words. This year's contest deadline is May 1, 2009.

People to People and The American Counseling Association are pleased to announce a unique overseas cultural and professional exchange opportunity. Dr. Jane Goodman, a past ACA president, will lead a delegation of professional counselors to China and Tibet from May 25 – June 6, 2009.

Once again, we have come to the conclusion of the annual ACA Graduate Student Ethics Competition! The winners are...

20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling is a major professional initiative co-sponsored by ACA and the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB).

ACA is now providing *eligible ACA student members with professional liability ("malpractice") insurance. ACA Student membership now includes liability insurance for those 'enrolled and engaged in a master's degree counseling curriculum at a post secondary institution'.

Please take a few moments to review the 2008 Year-In-Review special report which highlights accomplishments of your association over the past twelve months. The report also outlines several new benefits you will receive in 2009 in the section entitled: "Preview of 2009: More New Benefits for ACA Members."

The most important benefit in any membership organization is the ability to run for office and/or participate in the annual election of an organization's leadership. The American Counseling Association, its divisions, and affected regions will be conducting its annual election process December 2008 through January 2009.

The webinar discussion, Treating Returning Servicemembers: Are Mental Health Professionals Ready?, which was webcast live in October, can now be accessed online at your convenience.

Those living in the Gulf Coast states continue to be in our thoughts as they recover from Hurricane Ike.  The past month has not been kind to the region as it has faced the destructive forces of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike.

ACA accepted an invitation to attend the September 11, 2008 dedication of the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial and was represented by Chief Professional Officer David Kaplan. The ceremony included remarks from President Bush and Secretary of Defense Gates. Each of the 184 individuals killed when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon had their names read aloud, followed by the sounding of a bell.