Rita Lashway Scholarship

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THE RITA LASHWAY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (RLS) serves an important purpose: to provide support for association professionals who wish to expand their knowledge and expertise in the field of association management. 

Whether in the early years of a promising career or a more tenured position, ongoing professional development is necessary to hone skills and maintain cutting edge creativity. Everyone benefits from advanced training and development opportunities. Yet not everyone works for associations that can afford to fund certification opportunities to their staff. ESSAE recognized this need and established a scholarship program.

The scholarship program, administered by the ESSAE Board appointed Scholarship Committee, is a restricted fund established to support leadership development and pursuit of the Certified Association Executive (CAE); Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM), Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designations or participation in the Association Leadership Academy (ALA).

Need financial help? 

The program is funded by member organizations and community support. ESSAE has contributed a portion of the proceeds raised during its annual Holiday Party & Silent Auction into the scholarship program.

By contributing to this program, we help to ensure the continued professional growth of colleagues who represent and are dedicated to our profession. What better gift can we give than to support the industry that we have made our lifetime work while helping friends and colleagues? Your donation will demonstrate your support of ESSAE and your fellow association professionals. Thank you on behalf of those who will benefit and we hope you will give generously.

To make a contribution, please use this online donation form or send a check payable to the Rita Lashway Scholarship Program and mail to ESSAE at 300 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 300, Albany, NY 12203.  For questions, please contact Carrie Laney, Executive Director, at 518-463-1755 or [email protected]. 

Suggested levels of giving and categories:

$25                                  Supporter
$50                                  Friend
$100                                Colleague
$250                                Benefactor                                        
$500                                Patron                 
$750                                Fellow                                  
$1,000 and over              Sustaining Partner

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ABOUT RITA M. LASHWAY, MBA, CAE

Rita Lashway dedicated her life to serving the association community. As an active member of the Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) for more than 25 years, she contributed significantly by serving on the marketing, membership, by-laws, and nominating committees. Additionally, she served on the ESSAE board of directors, including a term as chair. She spearheaded the first state-wide economic impact study, which highlighted the positive influence and contributions of associations within their communities.

Rita was also a past president of several other associations, including the New York State Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (NYSCASA), the New York State Association for Women in Administration (NYSAWA), and Women in Development of Northeastern New York (WID), where she was a founding member. She also served on the board of Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York and the advisory board of St. Anne’s Institute. Moreover, she was appointed to the American Society of Association Executives Certified Association Executive (CAE) Commission, where she contributed to establishing, developing, and reviewing criteria for the international certification examination.

Rita took great pride in helping association staff develop leadership skills. As a member of the Huether School of Business Advisory Board, she collaborated with The College of St. Rose to develop a certificate program in nonprofit management and taught strategic management for nonprofits at the graduate level. She also worked with ESSAE to develop its Association Leadership Academy (ALA), serving as dean since its inception, and collaborated with ESSAE and The College of St. Rose to develop a joint Leadership Certificate Program. She was honored with ESSAE’s Vanguard Award for service to the association community and the Distinguished Member of the Year Award. In 2014, ESSAE created the “Rita M. Lashway Scholarship Fund” to award scholarships to association professionals seeking to enhance their leadership skills.

Rita retired in 2014 from her position as deputy executive director of the New York State School Boards Association, a role she held for over 15 years. However, she did not retire from ESSAE, continuing to be active as a member of the Rita M. Lashway Scholarship Fund Committee and as chair of the new ALA Committee. In her spare time, she mentored young professionals and shared her knowledge and experience through workshops and lectures.

On June 3, 2024, Rita passed away peacefully at her home. Her obituary can be found here. Rita's profound legacy and contributions to our field will be enduring, and we are eternally grateful for her leadership, knowledge, inspiration, support, and dedication.