President's Letter: Set Your Sights to New Heights in 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
By Sara Grauf, CSEP
As we enter the New Year, it provides an opportune time to reflect on the year and share a few key updates about ILEA from the last few months that have been of important focus.
Strategic Planning for the Future
The responsibility of any board of governors is to set the organization up for long-term viability. In November, your board gathered for a special two-day retreat where we evaluated and refined our strategy for the future. Key areas highlighted include member value and growth, our global voice, professional development and ILEA’s role in the overall events industry. This is an exciting time and I look forward to sharing more specifics in the coming months and a deeper dive at the Annual General Meeting at ILEA Live in Minneapolis this August.
Membership & Chapters
ILEA is fortunate to have a diverse, active membership that allows different viewpoints and experiences from which we can all learn. Representing all disciplines of live events, ILEA members and chapters foster a fierce sense of belonging that continues be an area that distinguishes our organization. As we continue to prepare for the future and based on feedback from members and chapter leaders, our membership committee is evaluating our current membership categories and model, including the 18-month extended membership option we rolled out last spring.
ILEA chapters remain a vital element of our organization. Shortly, we will announce a year-round chapter education plan that will help develop chapter leaders while also providing opportunities for your personal leadership growth. Providing increased efficiency in chapter operations, reporting and communications remains a priority, and we are excited about how this year-round plan fits in with ILEA’s strategic goals and allows chapters time and tools to be more successful
Industry Standards — The Time is Now
After the remarkable conversations held during the 2018 Global Event Forum, it is clearer than ever before that our industry needs to continue its battle to make our profession more understood by end users and those outside our community. I believe ILEA is in a unique position to help. We are looking for additional paths to elevate and expand our CSEP designation and start a conversation regarding industry standards with the other professionals who touch our industry. We also are excited to continue the Global Event Forum conversation in 2019 in Minneapolis prior to ILEA Live!
I know and appreciate the value of ILEA, the creative genius of our members and the impact we have as an industry. Together, we will let the world know, so let’s keep talking.
Sara Grauf, CSEP
ILEA President
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