First, apologies that I have not updated my blog in so long! I resolve to do better in the new year!
As things calm down as the holidays move forward (what a switch! Things usually get incredibly hurried for me the closer Christmas comes!), and Jim and I re-assert that we are not giving each other presents (instead, giving to our favorite charities), I look back on the accomplishments of the past several months (when I've been too busy to update my blog!).
Every meeting this fall has seen each committee of which I am a member (all but Nominations) examine how its committee's role can focus on chapter strengthening, educational excellence, and membership diversity and, as a result, the amount of new initiatives and refocused efforts has been astounding! Finance: writing a quarterly newsletter for chapter finance chairs and treasurers to help ensure the financial soundness of chapters; Communications: Broadcasting the Buzz is including news and reminders to chapters from international committees as well as fresh ideas for marketing chapter efforts; Educational Excellence: implementing three major goals of 1) Schools for Africa project implementation, 2) focusing on early-career educator support, and 3) providing resources for five program goals; Constitution: Working to ensure that all state organizations and chapters have written and/or updated bylaws and rules (committee reps from Europe, Canada, and Latin America especially important in this area of chapter and state organization strengthening); Leadership Development: planning the entire new state organization presidents' training around their major role in strengthening chapters; Membership: focusing on retention of members through rewriting all orientation and reorientation materials and process as well as providing a modern/professional initiation ceremony in addition to the traditional one; International Speakers Fund: Working on increasing visibility and funding of ISF and having biannual application periods; Expansion: Refocusing on chapter strengtheing outside the US in efforts to reinstitute dissolved state organizations and strengthen others.
In addition, regional directors are providing professional foci at each conference that will be advertised and open to non-members, and scheduling SAP training for all state organizations, with the intent that this effort will be continued with chapters in those state organizations (SE did this in 2009, so will not do again).
I don't know of a better present to the president of an organization than to see its members working so enthusiastically and energetically toward a common goal that will ultimately strengthen the entire organization--design its future.
As we move forward into the new year, I am eager to see how the remaining international committees will add to this effort. I truly believe that we have turned a corner in our long-term productivity and vitality as an organization. I am tremendously encouraged. I hope you are, also. Happy Holidays.
