"Would
you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?"
asked Alice.
"That
depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said
the Cat.
"I
don t much care where," said Alice.
"Then
it doesn't matter which way you go," replied the Cat
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland
It's a talent that some people
seem born with: an innate sense of
direction. Put these prodigies behind
the wheel, and they never seem to get lost, always know
which way to turn, which side streets to take, and
arrive on time exactly where they wanted to
go.
Thankfully, for the rest of us,
there are maps and GPS. Tools to help
us get where we want to go and which help us measure our
progress toward our destination.
As I embark on my term as
President, I am thankful that our chapter is developing
a map for where we want to go. It was
something our chapter initiated last year to great
success as we created a one-year plan modeled after IFMA
Headquarters' Balanced Score Card.
This plan included listening to members via focus
groups, concentrating on membership retention as well as
on recruitment, developing new fundraising events, and
reshaping our sustaining patrons program.
It was created by the entire board, was the focus
of the monthly board meetings, and propelled the
chapter's forward movement throughout the
year.
However, as the Cheshire Cat so
wryly points out: for directions to have value, you must
also set a destination. In terms of
our chapter, this means crafting a vision about what we
hope to accomplish this year and in the years to
come. Fortunately, I am blessed with
a diverse team of board volunteers who spent time at
this year's board retreat developing the 2010-11
Balanced Scorecard. Together, we have set a goal of
developing a five-year strategic plan for which the
chapter leaders will work from when setting annual
benchmarks.
There are many exciting things
on the horizon for IFMA Atlanta. Our
chapter goals include continuing to support the
nonprofit facility management community with educational
and financial commitments, increasing membership via
retention and recruitment, and continuing to think
outside the box, listen to our members and develop new
opportunities for involvement for all
members.
But let me tell you the goal
that I consider one of this year's most important: our
commitment to continue to develop the young
professionals of our industry in order to ensure
long-lasting success of the chapter years after some
members retire.
It's trite to say that youth are
our future, but it is true. We have
an obligation to provide the graduates from Georgia
Tech's Integrated Facility Management program and
students from other local colleges the opportunities to
learn by engaging in our professional association
without hesitation. We plan in the
upcoming year to provide educational and luncheon events
which remain accessible for this group.
In addition, we plan to continue to host network
events within the chapter and to other professional
associations like BOMA, CoreNet, USGBC and AIA to share
best practices with those and other
organizations.
Just as importantly, young
professionals (or the revised moniker - Emerging
Leaders) mean a lot to IFMA. We
currently have two emerging leaders who serve on the
board of directors. Our current
younger members are establishing their place within the
chapter. They manage the newsletter,
social media and membership. They
have duplicated the council concept to create local
industry specific groups to share knowledge and best
practices.
Let me admit that I am a little
biased about the importance of this goal.
Maybe it's because I am the product of the very
cultivation and mentoring I hope we can encourage into
today's young professionals.
As a brand-new facility manager
for a local non-profit, I'll always be grateful to the
IFMA members who leant their expertise, advice and
encouragement as I got started in the profession.
Without their wisdom and the resources and training
opportunities of the larger IFMA community, it would
have been hard to excel in this profession.
So to
the chapter and the next generation, in the coming year,
I can't wait to give back.
Christy
Jellets
Chapter
President
