This organization has given me a great leg-up in my professional life. In my agency, we must track all of the Professional Development we take, and because of our monthly meetings, my PD list has far surpassed many of my coworkers. I have also brought some of our IAAP speakers to my staff meetings to present on their topics. In my last performance review, it was brought up that my professional growth was reflective of the seminars and training I attended with IAAP in the past two years. I hope that this is also the case for many of you.
In the 2011-2012 IAAP year, I want to see speakers and topics that reflect who we are and what we need. Each year, IAAP chooses speakers based on survey results, personal preferences, and speaker availability. This year, I really want a heavy input from you, the membership – not just the board members. I invite you all to provide me with constant feedback, comments, and to give ideas about what you feel you need to learn about. What is going on in your workplace? What do you need more training or information on? What are professional topics of interest for you? Please do not hesitate to give the board ideas. I want to see interesting and relevant speakers at IAAP just as much as you, but I need your input and feedback to make it happen.
As one of IAAP’s core values is “communication,” I would like to emphasize that my door and my inbox are always open. I think that consistent communication between the board and Chapter members is crucial. For this organization to give each person the most of their membership, we must be open to suggestions and change – in other words, be “Adaptible” (another core value of IAAP).
This year, I would also like to see us develop our community aspect in two ways. Firstly, I would like our chapter, however small to become more of a community in itself. This is more than just something we all do one Wednesday per month. It’s an organization that celebrates who we are professionally. We have representatives from many agencies and companies in our Chapter – this means that our individual networks are as wide as our membership is large. I encourage you to use each other and connect with each other outside of our once-a-month setting. If you are in need of something at work, chances are that someone in this room has what you need or knows the name of someone who can help. The only way we are going to get our name out into the community is if we build a community within our Chapter first.
Secondly, and following that, I would like IAAP to become a household name in Lethbridge. Everyone should know how great this organization is. We offer monthly education and network opportunities that can benefit so many people in this city – but they need to know who we are before they can access us. Branching into the community will mean more advertising, more appearances, and ultimately a strong presence in the city. Not only may this help us gain members, but it will increase our chances of meeting and networking with more agencies and vendors who can participate in our 2013 Canada Divisions Conference. IAAP members from all over Canada will be here in our city waiting to see what our Chapter has to offer – let’s get a solid foundation laid this year so that we have something great to build on for CDC and for our future as a Chapter.
As for membership, I am very much hoping for another increase this year. I am open to hearing any suggestions or strategies on how to make this increase happen, and I am eager to discuss my own with the board. With the steady growth we experienced in the last year, we can surely manage to continue it this year.
I am eager to work with all of you and with all of our board members in making this year a great one for the Lethbridge Chapter. I will not say that we will be “Bigger and Better” because we are pretty great as it is, but I will say that we will be “Bigger and Louder” this year. Our Chapter can do some wonderful things and I hope to achieve our Strategic Planning goals this year through effective planning, communication, and fundraising.
I look forward to being President. I have had such a positive experience being a part of this organization and I know that I’ll have nothing but in the future as well.
Tamara Sudar
