Letter From The President - So Long, But Not Farewell

Thank you for this past year serving as your chapter president.  I still feel very honored and humbled to serve in this roll.  I must admit I am looking forward to handing the reigns over to Jennifer Dorholt on July 1st.  I know she is going to be an amazing president to our chapter. 

This past year the board’s goal was to enrich your membership and engage with you as members.  I do hope you felt we achieved that.  I know that I am extremely proud of the hard work your chapter leaders and volunteers have done this past year. 

Key 2017/2018 Highlights  –

• Monthly education – our education committee listened to your requests on topics and it shows in the raised the satisfaction scores. 
• Holiday Party  -  We shifted our holiday party from December to November, since December can get so crazy  – Big shout out to Marisa Hovde & Mary Moberg for co-chairing this successful event. 
• Spring Social in May – Congrats to Claire Walden & Jenni Hielke on putting on this great event at whirlyball.  I just wish more of our members could have seen your hard work on this give-back event.  
• Yoga for Change – Community Outreach created this event to raise even more funds for the Jeremiah Program.  Thank you to Kelsey Anderson for your ideas and leadership on this event. 
• Mentor Café – This benefit to you, our members, presented key topics to our members in a casual atmosphere.  Thanks to Ann-Margaret Young and Heidi Cerdas Monge for making this program excel.
• iConnet – Nicole Coon and her committee took this all-day education event to a new level.  I so enjoyed the aspect of a hosted buyer and the re-imagined food & beverage….it created a great atmosphere to learn and network.
• Year End Celebration – Jean Riegelman & Kathy Hedlund you are doing an amazing job with your committee on re-imagining the May Gala and transforming it to be about our members. 
• Newsletter – Thank you for keeping us all informed with our monthly newsletter and then adding the MPI MN Minute in the middle of the year.  Kudos to both Amy Beilke and Jill Bilhovde for all their hard work.

I could go on and on about our amazing chapter.  However I need to leave something to talk about at the Year End Celebration.  Speaking of that – I hope you will join us at JX Event Venue in Stillwater on June 20th.  This reimagined event is a focus on you, our members.  Let us celebrate the success of our industry.  Let us connect with our colleagues in the wonderful industry.  If you are fretting about traffic to/from Stillwater – we planned for it to kick off at 3pm and end at 6pm – you can beat rush hour both ways.  I hope to see you there on Wednesday, June 20th at JX Event Venue in Stillwater. 

Signing off and transitioning to your Immediate Past President – thank you for all the memories of this year.