It is always amazing how quickly things fly by year after year and 2023 was no different! It was an extremely full year of activity for ATD Dallas. I would like to reflect on all that was achieved and the people who made it happen!
Thank You 2023 Volunteers!
We had an amazing group of members that served as dedicated volunteers across them many committees, programs, and signature events for the chapter. Without the talents, efforts, and time given by about 60 volunteers, we would not be standing at the end of the year celebrating all of the outstanding things that were accomplished!
Let me recap the MANY things that were offered by ATD Dallas in 2023:
- Chapter Meetings
- Happy Hours
- Virtual Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
- Career Development
- Learning & Development
- Learning Technology
- AXIS Awards – 16 Awards given out at luncheon event
- Southwest Learning Summit – Largest event since 2020 with over 215 attendees
- Book Club – Inaugural offering that will continue quarterly in 2024
- CPTD/APTD Study Group – An amazing resource for those looking to get their credentials
- New Member Orientation – Offered before each chapter meeting to learn more about ATD Dallas
Who made these things happen?
- Programs Team
- Professional Development Team
- AXIS Awards Planning & Selection Teams
- Southwest Learning Summit Planning Team & “Day of” Volunteers
- Membership Team
Who made sure you knew things there happening?
At ATD Dallas we drive member engagement through our value proposition of Access-Recognition-Expertise (A.R.E.). Recognition was extremely important in November and December as we celebrated our wonderful volunteers. We want to say thank you to everyone that contributed in 2023!
We want to additionally recognize the following individuals that were selected as our 2023 Volunteers of the Year. I truly don’t know what we would have done without them!
We had a ton of fun back in November with our “Mix, Mingle, and Celebrate” chapter event that was held at Caddo Offices Reimagined. It was a great space to mix and mingle with our fellow TD friends and also celebrate our 2023 volunteers. Here are some pictures for the evening!
Gratitude is always in season. I'd like to take a moment to express gratitude and appreciation for each and every person who invested time and effort to support ATD Dallas this year.
Applause for the 2023 Board of Directors!
I specially want to say thank you to the Board of Directors that provided leadership, direction, and support for all that was offered, executed, and accomplished this year. They gave so much of their time to attending monthly board meetings, conducting their committee meetings, attending chapter programs, supporting our signature events, and being available to their volunteer teams.
Dee Dick Lifetime Achievement Award
Dee Dick was a long-time member and leader for ATD Dallas. Upon her passing in 2018 the chapter created an award in her name to honor a volunteer that had served the chapter in similar ways. It recognizes someone that has left an impact on the chapter due to their willingness to lead, challenge, and give to others.
This year we recognized the fifth recipient, Laurie Lumston. Laurie joined the chapter in 2013 and jumped into volunteering. She has the heart of servant leader, exudes trustworthiness, listens attentively, is humble, asks great questions, is there to do whatever job you ask, and does it all with grace!
Laurie has given so much to the chapter over the last 10 years. She had dedicated her time and leadership to so many areas! First to Southwest Learning Summit – serving as co-chair twice, to the AXIS Awards – serving as chair and ongoing mentor, and by serving both as a Director and then as a Senior Advisor on the ATD Dallas Board of Directors. She even served in a role at the National level to help organize the annual conference for chapter leaders across the U.S.
We want to recognize and thank Laurie for her volunteer service, friendship to so many of us in the chapter and industry, and for all her contributions, big and small, toward making Dallas the Talent Development Capital of the World!
We were also pleased to have all five of the Dee Dick Lifetime Achievement recipients present at the December chapter meeting. Dee would be tickled pink to see how her legacy has lived on through these amazing chapter members.
2023 in Review
In my first blog post of 2023, I shared that the 2023 Board had a key word or rally cry for the year. Together we had landed on CONNECTION as our word. We want to provide ways for our member to network and connect with each other in 2023 and I feel as though we delivered on that! I hope that our members saw that come through in our efforts.
As president, I worked to fine tune some of our internal operations, continuing to focus on the chapter finances to ensure we have a healthy balance sheet to carry us into the future. I am extremely proud of where we are ending this year!
2024 Preview
The new board came together in mid-December to outline our goals and what we want to achieve in the year ahead! These items have been detailed in our Operating Plan. More to come on that in the new year!
