The Time to Invest in YOU is Now!

By Michele Hall, AFP-NYC Secretary 
President & CEO enCourage Kids Foundation 

As we eagerly await the next “Phase” of reopening and hope to see an end to the uncertainty that we face as a nation and as an industry, it is important to be prepared. Prepared for what you might ask? Anything and everything.

This is not the time to throw up our hands in despair – we need to take action. We must continue to reach out to our donors, volunteers, colleagues, and board members. While these are indeed challenging times, I have been regaled with stories of how the pandemic has revealed opportunity and opened doors that were once closed. I have seen colleagues boldly step into new job opportunities while others have stepped up to bravely acquire new skills and take on greater responsibility. We all miss our in-person meetings, lunches, and conferences. However, we have also found joy in not having to navigate the subway or a crowded restaurant in lieu of getting dressed from the waist up and attending meetings in the comfort of our very own home; complete with unexpected visits from pets, kids, spouses, roommates and parents. In other words, we have found a way to find the normal in the not so normal.

We must also continue to invest in ourselves professionally. I urge you all to remain plugged in to the offerings that the chapter has created just for you. Our most recent Professional Advancement session on navigating virtual fundraising was timely and well attended.  And there is much more in store. And if you haven’t already, take a look at what our Fundraising Day sessions have to offer. Many of our colleagues are registering their teams and hosting watch parties together then scheduling discussions after those sessions. This is an excellent way to ideate with your team and use what you’ve learned to benefit yourself and your organization.

So, let’s virtually gather as we did in-person at the Marriott Marquis last year, listen and learn from some of the best in the business, and then discuss what we’ve learned together in the virtual hallway. I’ll see you there!