Chapter Leadership Brief 8.16.18
By Jill Scibilia
It’s the last gasp of summer…admittedly, I will be headed out on my summer vacation the day this article hits. When I am back it will soon be Labor Day and the beginning of one of the busiest times of the year. Well, all seasons are busy now—even the summer as our Chapter Treasurer Craig Shelley pointed out in the last issue. But let’s just say that fall is special.
Sometime after Labor Day—the exact day shifts a bit each year—everyone who was gone all summer: volunteers, board members, donors and other friends suddenly come back with a loud “We’re here!” And those who were here say, “We’re still here!”
I don’t know about you, but my e-mail in-box overflows. My calendar is filled with board, volunteer and committee meetings and staff planning meetings. My “to-do” list includes a long list of folks who wanted to reconnect in the fall or with whom I am trying to make a connection.
You may think I’m crazy, but in the midst of the busiest times of the year, I have learned that adding a meeting or two is helpful to me. I have found connecting with development colleagues to be even more important in busy times. It doesn’t have to take as much time as you might think, and like me, you may find that you earn the time back. Whether it is meeting someone for coffee, attending a session or joining a committee meeting, I feel re-charged. And this means I can give more to the mission and donors I serve.
Here are some suggestions for your Fall Calendar:
- Take an hour and schedule a coffee or grab a drink with a development colleague from another organization sometime in September. No agenda: just connect.
- New to the field or to NYC and looking to make connections with colleagues? There is no better place for doing this than AFP. If you have not already joined AFP, I encourage you to do so. It is one of the best investments you can make in yourself and that your organization can make in you. There are countless ways to get involved and to connect.
- Join one of our committees. It is a great way to meet and collaborate with other fundraisers, to build your network and to give back to the profession.
- Attend one of our professional advancement events to learn and exchange best practices. We have a fabulous line-up this fall. Check out the next two sessions:
- October 11th: Diversity in Fundraising
- November 8th: Pulling Back the Curtain on Donor-Advised Funds
- Join us on National Philanthropy Day on Monday, November 19th. Don’t miss this special celebration of a day set aside to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy—and those people active in the philanthropic community—to the enrichment of our world.
Check out our events calendar to learn more.
Enjoy your last bit of summer and I hope to see you at one of our events this fall. The work you do and your voice and engagement in our fundraising community matters. Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place.