You, too, can contribute! (Even if you don’t run an IT Department)

Greetings, fellow TAGITM members. As I am writing this, we are inching closer to our much-anticipated Annual Conference. I am looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing old ones (Yes, I’m looking at you, Shane). By the time you will be reading this, the conference will be a pleasant memory and it will be time to start again.

With new beginnings come new opportunities for contributing to the overall success of our organization. Like me, you may have thought that because your title does not have a "C" in it or you are not a director, that you have nothing to add. I can assure you that you couldn’t be more wrong. 

I became a member 15 years ago; I enjoyed the attending the conference, but I felt a little out of place. My title is Systems Administrator. I’m not a manager. I don’t make big strategic decisions. I wouldn’t have anything to contribute to the group. After many years and some well-timed encouragement from my CIO (read that as a kick in the pants), I was volunteered for the Education Committee. I attended all the meetings and faithfully read all the abstracts in preparation for my first inoperson meeting. It was intimidating to sit in that room with all the people who manage people like me, but as I learned to speak up, I found that I was heard with just as much respect and attention as anyone in the group. I felt like I had something to contribute. I served on the Education Committee for two years before moving to the Conference Committee. Again, my ideas were welcomed, and I contributed.

Earlier this year, I was asked to serve as a Committee Chair. I was responsible for gathering content for our Association newsletter. In the process, I have had the pleasure to interact with members of the Executive Board as well as other Committee Chairs. I can tell you that all of them are tops at what they do and are ready to offer encouragement, advice, and a helping hand to their fellow members, regardless of a job title!

This experience has helped me to grow both personally and professionally and I hope those of you who might have had misgivings about your contribution would be encouraged by my experiences.

By the way, there’s room on the Communications Committee if you’re interested. 😊

KAT