7/20/2008
As the new president of AAF of the Midlands, let me extend a warm welcome to members both old and new!
At the moment, I'm staring across my desk at a small mountain of paper and three ring binders. As overwhelming as that may be, its also incredibly exciting. It's exciting because this little mountain of mine is full of thought-provoking ideas, tales of wildly creative undertakings, and prognostications about the future of our industry. This mess overtaking my desk is the stuff upon which ad clubs are built: opportunity. And that word is at the very core of what our 2008-2009 season is all about.
Thomas Edison said: "Opportunity is missed by most people because its dressed in overalls and looks like work." I hope you'll be encouraged to hear that this year's club leadership has rolled up our sleeves in preparation for breaking a serious sweat in the coming months.This year we aim to do two really important things. We want to give each of you the opportunity to make the most of your membership while we take the opportunity to improve our club.
That being said, let me use this letter itself as an opportunity to share more about AAF of the Midlands and our grand plans. Our club is continuing to grow, and our members are becoming more involved than ever. This year will be no exception. We have big goals because we want to make a big difference.
We will start the fall season with our Annual Kick-off Party on Thursday, August 21st in our new meeting location, The Inn at USC. This year, our kick-off party will feature an Art Directors Art Show. We invite you to check out what these talented designers do when they're not creating logos. (I've also heard rumors that there may be a margarita machine involved.) If you're interested in having your work in the show, contact our program chair, Ace Evans at aevans@adamsgroup.com.
As always, we have some great luncheon programs planned for this year. And we all remember how much last February's ADDY Awards rocked. Next year's event will be just as fabulous, but for now I must keep the details a mystery.
We are hard at work on improvements to our club. We've launched a new web site. We are creating member kits filled with information about the benefits and discounts available to you as a member of AAF of the Midlands and the American Advertising Federation. We're launching a Facebook group so you can communicate with your peers.
We're also continuing in our tradition of public service. Our campaign for Sister Care recently won first place in AAF's National Club Achievement Competition. This year, we will be donating our services to The Township Auditorium, a nationally registered historic building that has provided entertainment to Midlands residents for generations.
Our club also awarded our first two-week diversity internship this summer. In an effort to educate and excite minority students about the careers found in advertising, we selected one winning high school student. In addition to a cash award, he spent a week visiting numerous advertising-related businesses. He then chose one to spend a week with as an intern. We would like to thank all of our participating companies: CNSG, ABC Columbia, Spectra True Colour and The Colonial Center.
I have to say that I am blown away by the enthusiasm and commitment of our current board of directors. They are talented, fun and fearless. Take a moment to click through to our board listing and see some of the folks who seem to hear opportunity knocking loud and clear.
Please remember, our organization is built on volunteers. We are at our best when our members get involved in committees, help with events, and serve the industry. No matter what your interests, every member has the chance to contribute. If you would like to seize your opportunity, I hope you'll drop me a line.
See you at kick-off!
Shelley Nazarenko
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