December 2025

In November, NASW’s Chief Executive Officer decided to restructure chapter operations, resulting in fourteen NASW chapter Executive Directors losing their jobs and all the remaining Executive Directors required to take on another chapter. The goal of this monumental change was two-fold from my understanding: 1) To try to equalize services from state to state; 2) To save money for the Association.

This has been very traumatic for NASW chapter executive directors and their Boards of Directors.

When I knew I would be taking on another state, I requested Missouri, which was given to me. It was the closest state that lost their Executive Director, and I also have family living there. As I learn more about the Missouri chapter and their programming, I am convinced I can help move them forward in revenue, engagement, and programming. My excellent staff at the Wisconsin Chapter will be assisting in this project. I see us as a “Big Brother/Sister” to NASW Missouri.

As the saying goes, when life provides lemons, make lemonade! I plan to move NASW Missouri forward with the help of our experience and accomplishments and of course continue to ensure that NASW-WIsconsin provides outstanding services and programming to our members and social workers in Wisconsin.

By Marc Herstand, MSW, CISW