At a recent workshop, I unintentionally and regrettably asked a group of Delta Sigma Phi founding members, “What year were most of you born, 2006 or ’7?” Chaos ensued. Apparently, certain numbers can no longer be said in front of undergraduate students. Fortunately, we can still share numbers with the Association’s primary audience, and a couple from our most recent board meeting continue to resonate with me:
First, 276 proposals were submitted for the Annual Meeting’s educational sessions. This represents a record number of submissions and a near-25% increase from last year.
Second, 764 attendees registered for the Annual Meeting by the early bird deadline, a 20% increase from this time last year.
These numbers signal just how invested and engaged our members continue to be in the Association’s work. Just as Dr. Frankenberger recognized our volunteers in his previous “Minute with the Board”, I want to recognize our membership’s commitment to being the premier community of professional practice.
Whether it’s by contributing groundbreaking research to the Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice (JFSLRP), or joining the next wave of Student Affairs Educator Certificants, AFA’s members continue to elevate the standard by educating themselves and others. The collective output from our association and its specialized communities is truly remarkable.
Here comes the action item: while December is two months away, it is also somehow tomorrow. Now would be a great time to reach out and put yourself on someone’s radar. If you have been inspired by someone’s research, ask if they would be willing to dive into a conversation in Vegas. If you know someone who has completed their CSAEd-FSL certification, ask if they would be willing to sit down and share their experience with you.
Finally, as we find ourselves in the throes of fall, if someone hasn’t said “thank you” to you in a while: thank you. Thank you for being part of our community and thank you for contributing to the knowledge building and transfer that makes our profession better every single day.