A Message from John Wilson

On March 12, SELF will be welcoming its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Sacramento. The recruiting process brought out numerous highly qualified candidates and the selection process was vigorous. The successful candidate, Nathaniel Lord, comes to SELF with a background as a leading Risk Manger in the private sector, and a record of public service as an elected school board member in Southern California . We feel he is well positioned to serve SELF as it faces challenges in the future. As one who had held the position for more than 15 years, and now as interim director for the past seven months, I also want to thank the more than 40 candidates who competed for the position and especially the finalists who took a great deal of their personal time in preparing some outstanding presentation for the review panel.

It was an honor for me to be asked to return to SELF on an interim basis, but I am looking forward to returning to a less demanding schedule. I want to thank the SELF staff for the support they have given me and their continuing loyalty to the mission of the SELF program. Significant progress had been made in clearing up some of the lingering problems reported in the recent financial audit and in the handling of claims. I am confident that these problems will not continue to be an issue in future reports.

An active effort to influence members to leave SELF over the past year has succeeded in causing a drop in membership, but it has also strengthened the resolve of many members to increase their support of the program. With the continued efforts of the SELF Board and staff it improve the program, I am certain that many members who have withdrawn from SELF will return adding further strength to the program as it moves into the future.

SELF has always enjoyed the support of most of California 's public educational agencies and this sustained the program for more than 20 years. With new leadership and the continued support of its members, SELF can continue to succeed.