ATD Dallas Community,

At the beginning of this year, I challenged your 2018 Executive Board and team of creative, committed volunteers to deliver “bigger, better, and bolder” value for you. Every time you renew your membership in ATD Dallas, you’re expressing your trust that we’re here to help you build your capability, connections, and career. You saw that commitment if you attended this year’s remarkable Southwest Learning Summit. And we have even more exciting events and value in store for you in the coming months. I think you’ll be as excited about the following as I am. We are among the most successful ATD chapter-communities in the world because #DallasKnowsTalent and #DallasGrowsTalent.

You already know that we’ve been able to offer most program events to members for free. We’ve been able to do this because our financial position is strong. Our net income is up from last year, we have sufficient retained earnings to protect and sustain our community’s financial health, and we were able to invest far more in this year’s Southwest Learning Summit and our upcoming AXIS Awards Gala than we’ve been able to do in the past. That’s because your Board has been working hard to secure sponsorship support for program and special events. We’re asking for your help also. Evangelize the value of ATD Dallas in the organization you serve. Explain how your membership in ATD Dallas is helping you build your capability and secure ideas from our area’s most experienced and creative talent development leaders. An ATD Dallas sponsorship ensures that the entire ATD Dallas team is at their side as they compete and grow.

The remainder of this year is filled with professional development events that will help you develop your skills, and I am looking forward to hosting the October chapter event at GameStop, where I will be having a conversation with you about creating and leading an innovative and imaginative learning culture. This is a shared Dallas and Mid-Cities chapter event, so you’ll have an opportunity to network with talent development leaders across the metroplex. Register today.

In November, the Dallas Federal Reserve will invite us to their headquarters, which you know will be a remarkable event. In addition to their exceptional hospitality, you’ll also get remarkable development, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet and congratulate your 2019 Board Executives, for whom you’ll vote during October. In addition to that vital ballot information, also watch for a member satisfaction survey, which I encourage you to complete. We’re looking for your feedback and ideas.

In December, celebrate with us. Honor and celebrate the remarkably creative and effective work being done by your peers. Yes, you know it: This year’s AXIS Awards Gala will be “bigger, better, and bolder” than ever. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to honor the creative builders of our community. Like all of our other events, this is also an opportunity for you to network with our area’s best and brightest. I’ve often said that the most successful leaders know how to “imagine like a child and think like an adult.” Our organizations look to us for imaginative ideas and then the maturity and experience to operationalize and monetize those ideas. See how your most successful peers are doing that – meet them and then add them to your network of professional resources.

This year has also been among our most collaborative. Starting this year, all of our volunteers have access to Basecamp, a communications tool that brings our incredible volunteer team together to share ideas and to support you. As importantly, key volunteer leaders are working now with Degreed to bring every ATD Dallas member online development, resource sharing, and a rich repository of learning content at no additional cost. Access is included in your membership. With each Degreed demonstration and project planning meeting, I am increasingly excited by the additional value that this will bring to you. Among our strategic goals for this year has been to connect you all more frequently and completely between SIG and program events – the powerful combination of Basecamp and Degreed will get this done exceptionally well.

I am grateful for you, for our community, for our success, and for our future. Our chapter/community is financially, intellectually, and creatively strong. You’ve found a great home in ATD Dallas; encourage your colleagues and friends to do the same. We build capability, connections, and careers. Let’s continue to build our remarkable success together.

Matt

Matthew Hirst

President, ATD Dallas