ATD Dallas President’s Newsletter - January

22 years ago this month, I was stationed in Korea.   In my first few days there, our unit's commander took several of us on a 4-mile run.  It was early and still dark outside.  It was also bone-chilling cold.  The silence of the run was deafening.   Although I was running with others, the darkness and the cold made me feel alone.  I doubted if I would be able to complete the journey.  I was afraid, and I was tired.  As my panic escalated, Joe, one of the other lieutenants, did the unthinkable.  He called out a running cadence.  I can still hear his voice piercing the cold darkness, "left-right, left-right."   His voice gave me the strength to do something that I could not accomplish alone.

Over the past two years, that memory has resurfaced many times.  Yes, I’ve felt alone, like I did on that cold morning in Korea.  But more so, my heart has gone out to those that may feel like they are alone, to those that may feel like they won’t make it.  As Talent Development professionals, that is what we do.  We care about the people in our organizations, and we want to give them the tools to be their best selves.  We serve them.  We pour ourselves out to them.   We give them our hearts.  We’re the voice in the darkness.

At ATD, we hope to serve you in the same way you serve others.  As we start 2022, there are a few things that I want to bring to your attention.

• There will be a lot of variety in our chapter meetings.  Some meetings will be in-person and others will be virtual.  We'll also provide a mix of meetings that will provide an opportunity for learning and relationship-building.  So, be on the lookout for chapter meeting announcements as we live out A.R.E. – Access, Recognition, and Expertise. 
• We all know the power of learning by doing.   One way to grow as a Talent Development professionals is by volunteering within our chapter.  By volunteering, you can practice your leadership skills, build a more robust professional network, and deepen your expertise.  If you're interested in volunteering, we'll soon be announcing a Volunteer Summit in February.
• It's not too early to start thinking about our Southwest Learning Summit (SWLS).   You can participate in various ways: as a volunteer, an attendee, or represent your organization as a speaker.  The sky is the limit!

2022 is going to be a great year.  Here at ATD, we want to be a voice that makes your journey easier.  It’s our goal to make “Dallas the Talent Development Capital of the World.”  If you have any questions about the chapter or any of the information I've shared in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us at info@tddallas.org.

Thank you,

Lawrence Price

President, ATD Dallas Chapter