FROM THE CHAIR

Summer: a key time for NAPFA volunteers

By Karla McAvoy, NAPFA Chair


For many, the summer months are a time to relax, enjoy the nice weather, and possibly travel. For the NAPFA Board of Directors, regional boards, and committees, the summer is a critical time to plan for the coming fiscal year.

Our summer gathering

In June, NAPFA will host the annual Summer Volunteer Leadership Meeting at NAPFA headquarters in Chicago. This meeting has consistently been one of my favorite times as a volunteer, so I am pleased I will help lead it this year, as one of my last official duties as NAPFA chair.

During this gathering, the board will meet first for our summer in-person meeting and will select the next chair-elect, who will serve as chair beginning in September 2023. The board will also complete this year’s strategy development project, which we began last fall. You’ll learn more about that in a future column. In the meantime, please be aware that we regularly update and confirm NAPFA’s strategic priorities to make sure we are focusing on work that’s important to the membership, our stakeholders, and the profession.

Following the board meeting, the volunteer leaders will arrive. It’s their opportunity to build relationships and discuss our strategic priorities for the coming year. The energy in the room is always fantastic and gives everyone a chance to share ideas and focus on our shared objectives.

Once we wrap up the meeting of the full leadership, each of the regional boards and committees will have another day to plan their activities for the coming year. When we were unable to gather in person in 2020, it was apparent how important this summer leadership meeting is for our volunteers. It truly is a time to stop and think about our roles and our connections to each other and to formally put plans in place for the benefit of the community.

I am so thankful we were able to return to meeting in person last summer, and I look forward to this June gathering to meet new volunteers and to see some with whom I’ve worked for many years. 

Become a volunteer!

If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of active engagement with NAPFA, volunteer now! For more information, contact Nikki Palluzzi or view the open positions here. Volunteers are one of NAPFA’s greatest strengths.