Happy New Year! No,
it’s not January, but it is a new year for our chapters.
As I read through newsletters, I’m excited to see that many chapters
have special meetings planned to set the goals for the coming year.
These meetings allow members to focus on what is important to them and
the chapter.
Plans that chapters are making include scheduling
educational programs for the year, deciding which award they will achieve and
their strategy to do so, setting a budget and making a business plan which
includes marketing their chapter.
The more chapters chart their future, the more apt they are
to steer the course. It is
important that chapters look at themselves as a business. Their customers are the members and potential members.
They need to meet the needs of their customers or the customers will go
elsewhere.
The good news is that chapters are meeting the needs of
members. This is evident by the
number of business and professional programs chapters are delivering to its
members. More and more members are
applying and receiving SBMEF grants and loans and the business skills grants.
Members are achieving professional development through
continuing education credits. The
number of members at the gold(50) and platinum(100) levels increase every day.
A few members have even reached the newest level: Titanium (250)!
They will be recognized at National Convention on the big stage!
Chapters are realizing the importance of members attending
spring conference and national convention.
Several chapters are providing funds to members to help with the cost.
What a great investment for the chapter.
It is a win-win situation!
I encourage chapters to continue to meet the needs of their members. National and your national officers are here to help in way possible. All you have to do is ask.
