AITP: Information Executive Newsletter Article

Evan Eldridge Awarded AITP Lifetime Membership in 2009

Evan Eldridge has been a member of AITP (and DPMA) since 1973. When Evan joined, he had completed a degree in Electrical Engineering and was hired by the College of Business at the University of Florida (go Gators!) as the Director of Data Processing, and Evan also taught computer classes. Back in those days, the computer equipment included items that most of today's college students have never seen: keypunch machines, punch cards, card sorters and readers. Mainframe computers were the only kind of computer in existence - home computing didn't exist. Things have certainly changed since then!

Evan's contribution to the AITP organization has been exemplary and far-reaching. Almost immediately upon joining the DPMA North Central Florida chapter, Evan got busy as Program Chair, followed by election as International Director. Evan held the International Director position, as well as Association Director and Region Director for his Chapter until 1995.

When Evan moved to South Carolina, Evan continued to serve in AITP as Region Director for the Augusta Georgia Chapter. Evan has returned to Gainesville, Florida, where he serves today as Region Director for the North Central Florida Chapter and Region 7 Secretary. Other notable positions held by Evan include Region 7 Treasurer, Region 7 Vice President and Region 7 President.

If you ask Evan, he will tell you that he has seen a lot of change in our organization throughout the years:

Region 7 was at one time the largest Region in the association, and had over 3,600 members.

Region 7 hosted the very first Student Conference (STUCON) in the association in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Board of Directors once consisted of Officers and one representative from each chapter.

Evan remembers that one of the most successful conferences of all time was an all-Florida conference held in Tampa. Every chapter in Florida was involved in planning and running that conference, and such cooperation and effort produced a conference with more than 200 vendor exhibits and several hundred attendees. What an experience that must have been!

Evan Eldridge exemplifies the self-less volunteer serving his fellow members honorably and consistently throughout his lengthy career in the Association for Information Technology Professionals. Evan Eldridge is one of our finest members in AITP, and he has set an example that would be quite challenging to beat. Well done, Evan, and congratulations on your lifetime membership!

This and other articles can be found at www.aitpregion7.org.

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