Greetings from West Texas!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year’s! My, oh my how time flies. I know all of you are knee deep in tax payments at this time just please remember to take a deep breath from time to time with the understanding that this too shall pass!

The theme of the 59^th annual Texas School Assessors conference that will be held beginning on March 29^th and continue through April 1^st is “You’re a shining star, no matter who you are!”

 Being in the property tax industry for the past 30 years I have met so many wonderful people from all over the state. They each have had special god given talents. I am sure none of us when we were in high school or college would ever have imagined that we would wind up in this profession. I certainly did not, I was going to be in the fashion industry, I’m sure that comes as a total surprise to all of you! But alas, life can throw you a few curve balls and you wind up far from where you thought you were headed. I would not trade one minute of any of the experiences I have had, it has made me the person I’ve become and I am very happy with who I am.

Each one of you are a shining star in your own way, never let anyone tell you or make you feel like that you are not. There is a heartwarming quote from the movie ‘The Help’ that I absolutely love, “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.” Tuck that away in that magnificent heart that god gave you and never forget it.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the conference. We will again be at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos. I would like to thank our board members, Collette and Cher for all of the help and encouragement that they have provided. This has been a wonderful experience and opportunity. I appreciate the trust that you placed in me to be able to spend my last year in this industry to serve as your president of this amazing organization.

May God bless each and every one of you!

Sheila Bennett