(Le français suit)

Dear Members – I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the AAC Board of Directors, that we have hired the first Executive Director in the history of the Association, Gail Ryan (bio below). Gail started working for the AAC as Executive Director officially as of last Monday, December 12^th. We were actually able to confirm Gail as our choice for Executive Director in time to attend the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association Conference and AGM, November 23^rd – 24^th in St. Andrews. She spent the full week in St. Andrews, met the Association Office staff – Cat and Candace – and Susan Waddy, our volunteer Office Manager. Gail has now taken over full-time management of the affairs of the AAC. As Susan was in a volunteer capacity, after helping Gail transition into her role, she has decided to ‘retire’ from volunteering as Office Manager after over 25 years of service. Please join myself and the Board in thanking Susan for her long and dedicated service to the AAC and its members!