Editor's note: The following is the text of Reginald A. Wilkinson's presidential acceptance speech, presented to the Delegate Assembly Aug. 21, 1996, at the 126^th Congress of Correction in Nashville, Tenn.

It is an honor for me to accept the position of president of the American Correctional Association. It is particularly a pleasure for me to do it, as is the tradition, here at the Delegate Assembly, for it was here as president-elect of the Ohio Correctional and Court Services Association that I first experienced the inner workings of this august body. Some of those early deliberations were a tad bit feisty.

I consider the American Correctional Association to be one of the more stalwart organizations in the nation. It will be my personal delight to serve you as ACA's 94^th president. I am especially elated to be an ACA president from the state of Ohio. As you certainly are aware, ACA's first and longest reigning president was a Buckeye (OSU): former Ohio governor and 19^th president of the United States of America, Rutherford B. Hayes. I have come to know President Hayes rather well, having visited the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, located in Freemont, Ohio, on several occasions recently. ACA Executive Director Jim Gondles accompanied me there earlier this year. I even spent the night at the Dillon House, the home of a Hayes family friend across the street from the Hayes complex, entitled Spiegel Grove. If you are ever in Northwest Ohio, I suggest you consider touring the Hayes Center.

I also am excited to be an ACA president from Ohio because, as you are aware, our first Congress took place in Cincinnati. ACA at that time was named the National Prison Association. It was a pleasure for me to preside over the Opening Session of the 125^th Anniversary Congress of Correction last August in the Ohio River City I call home. The play that was presented depicting how President Hayes would react to correctional practices today truly was exhilarating.

As many of you know, I have been a very active participant in ACA for many years. I want you to know, however, that I am not naïve enough to believe that I can achieve an agenda without your support. I have the utmost respect for the decision-making bodies of this organization. I also have tremendous regard for all of you individually--not just because you are voting members of the Delegate Assembly, but because I know all too well the challenges you and I face as corrections professionals. As director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, I know that what you do is value added to a very honorable profession. In fact, whenever I am confronted by persons who might suggest that corrections is a less-than-noble occupation, I look them in the eye and explain that correctional workers make a major contribution to our respective communities. I want ACA to continue making that contribution as well.

I want you to know that I have thoroughly enjoyed working with President Bobbie Huskey and the ACA Executive Committee for the past two years. I am particularly appreciative of Bobbie's leadership; her insight and commitment truly are commendable. I plan to build upon many of the contributions made during the Huskey Administration. I would like now to share a few preliminary thoughts with you regarding priorities that I have conceptualized for the next two years:

I have decided to adopt the theme of this month's (August 1996) Corrections today--"Programs That Work"--as a foundation. In the editorial column of CT, I wrote: "For a long time, we in corrections lived by the motto, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' I say, 'If it ain't broke, fix it anyway.'" I also suggested that we must "Find the best, use the best, share the best, (and) be the best." To this end, let me briefly point out a few specific initiatives.

I will work with a total of 38 committees. One-half of those committees will participate in what I consider to be a very exciting activity. Each will be responsible for identifying a number of "best practices" in their specific disciplines. For example, the Victims Committee will, after reviewing survey data, document correctional victims' programs that make a difference. Even though I use the phrase "best practices," I am not suggesting a competition. Instead, I am asking for a diverse list of programs that would cross geographical regions and program types such as juvenile or adult, prison or community supervision. The chairs of these committees would form the ad hoc Best Practices Coordinating Council that I have asked Ed Rhine to chair. When all the best practices vignettes have been compiled, the plan is to publish them. The book should be ready to give to Congress attendees in August 1998. I also think that it will be important that the Program Council gives consideration to highlighting some of these documented promising programs in conference workshops.

Furthermore, I would like to let you know that there will be several new ad hoc committees. For the first time there will be a committee on restorative justice, which is an emerging criminal justice--or shall I say victims' justice--concept. I am sure we will hear more about restorative justice in months to come. I have decided to have two community corrections committees: one to address residential options and the other to focus on nonresidential sanctions. Of course, these two committees will need to work closely together. There will be a correctional industries committee. I also have named a committee on mental health, as well as a medical health care committee. I have divided the Technology and Design Committee into two separate committees; there now will be both a Technology Committee and a Facility Design Committee. Also, for the first time, there will be a committee on shock incarceration and another on disturbance preparedness. All of the aforementioned new committees will participate in the best practices project. I am looking forward to the accomplishments of all our committees and councils.

You might want to know as well that, in the process of picking persons to serve on committees, I made sure that persons who represent corresponding ACA affiliates are members of these committees. For instance, the Correctional Industries Committee would have representation from the Correctional Industries Association. I also have included representatives on committees from other national organizations such as the National Institute of Corrections and the Office of Justice Programs.

As I indicated previously, existing programs and initiatives shall continue to be a priority. We now have a visioning document which outlines some very important values for ACA. We need to continue our efforts to promote legislative activities, especially our legislative position statements. Updated policies and resolutions should continue to be advanced. News releases about correctional current events also help shape stakeholders views about our craft. Developing and nurturing relationships with affiliate organizations and even some nontraditional associations also will help foster good communication.

The accreditation process is critical to the future of this Association. Our continued support of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, the Standards Committee, and the Division of Standards and Accreditation will help ensure a positive future for the American Correctional Association. Efforts to develop performance-based standards are continually progressing.

I am looking forward to an exciting two years as president of this illustrious and historical association. As we go about the business of trying to do the right thing for our society, I am hopeful that you will join me in my excitement. It once was said that there are several kinds of people in the world:

There are those people who make things happen;

There are those people who watch things happen; and,

There are those people who wonder what happened.