My name is Sarah Parker, and I am extremely honoured and excited to serve as your president this year. Our board officially began its term on July 1st and we have a fantastic year planned for our members and volunteers.
Building on the success of last year, we plan to continue offering relevant, hands-on programming that will help you grow your skills and knowledge, regardless of what stage you are in your career. From Special Interest Groups to professional development sessions and networking events, our goal is to provide something for everyone.
We’ll be kicking off our event schedule with our annual Welcome Back mixer in late September. I invite you all to join us for an evening of celebration and connection as we look to the year ahead. Stay tuned to our website for more details.
We recently surveyed our membership, and a key theme that came out of the survey was the need for more mentorship opportunities, both as a mentor and mentee. Well, we heard you, so we plan to amp up our mentorship program this year. If you’re a seasoned communicator, this is a great way to give back to those who are just starting out, and if you’re new to the industry, pairing up with a mentor is a great way to enhance your skills and gain valuable advice. We’ll be providing more details about the program shortly.
Most importantly, volunteer engagement and recognition is a key priority for us this year. Volunteers are truly the heart of our organization, and we want to find new ways to provide value and ensure a meaningful experience for all our volunteers throughout the year. Whether you’re a committee member, event greeter or chapter leader on our board, volunteering with IABC/BC gives you the chance to practice leadership, build skills and connect with peers in your industry. We offer numerous volunteer opportunities for professionals and new communicators at all levels, and I encourage you to connect with us if you want to learn more.
Finally, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our outgoing board for setting us up for success this year. Your time and contributions set the stage for an exciting year ahead.
My role as your president is to listen and respond to our members’ needs, ensure we deliver on our service promise, and work with the board to guide our chapter to further heights, both this year and into the future. If you have suggestions, comments or feedback at any time throughout the year, or if you just want to chat about your experience, please do get in touch with me.
Thank you for your continued support of IABC/BC. I look forward to seeing you at a future event!
