10 Goals for d10

 Our district has a rich legacy built by dedicated leaders over the years, and I’m honored to be part of District 10 at such a pivotal time. I recognize that some of the ideas I’m bringing forward may have been explored before but, for various reasons, didn’t take root. However, timing is everything, and I believe revisiting some ideas now could be the key to finding the perfect formula for success.

As we move forward, my goal is to strike a balance between bold innovation and deep respect for our past. Growth requires fresh ideas, but meaningful change also comes from understanding where we’ve been. That’s why I’ve already begun reaching out to long-time members and will continue to listen, learn, and incorporate their insights. This journey isn’t about change for the sake of change—it’s about blending experience with new possibilities to move our district forward in the best way possible.

With that in mind, I know that my priorities and goals will continue to evolve as I gain more insight from our district’s history and from those who have helped shape it. This list is not set in stone—it will adapt and grow as I learn, ensuring that every step forward is thoughtful, informed, and rooted in both progress and tradition.

Streamline, Strengthen, support, & serve

Streamline:

1. Centralized Communication Hub: Launch an open forum, such as a Slack workspace, with dedicated channels for discussions, updates, and collaboration—ensuring seamless communication without adding unnecessary meetings.

2. Optimize Processes & Reduce Volunteer Burden: Conduct a comprehensive review of existing District and club processes by gathering feedback from local clubs to identify inefficiencies, eliminate redundancies, and simplify workflows. The goal is to reduce unnecessary burdens on volunteers, making participation more accessible and effective.

Additionally, refresh and develop clear, user-friendly how-to guides for all AAF tasks, chairs, and committees. These resources will provide simplified yet detailed instructions to ensure consistency, improve onboarding, and empower club leaders to execute their roles with confidence.

3. Modernized Data Management: Implement a modern, database system (leveraging AI) to streamline data management and resource access for local clubs (such as speaker and judging lists), simplifying administrative tasks and improving efficiency.

Strengthen:

4. Membership Growth & Retention: Establish a dedicated Membership Chair and committee to support all clubs in recruiting and retaining members, fostering sustainable growth within District 10. Membership Chair will also plan and develop materials that target specific groups within our membership pools (i.e. freelancers, non-profits, in-house,) to help our membership chairs. 

5. District-Level Club Representation: To foster greater collaboration and ensure all clubs have a voice in District decision-making, each club will have dedicated representation on District-level committees or as committee chairs. This structure will strengthen connections between clubs and the District, promoting inclusivity and shared leadership.

6. Expansion of Professional & Ad 2 Clubs: Focus on expanding the number of Professional and Ad 2 clubs in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana (in theory, Little Rock, Tulsa, and Monroe), leveraging successful strategies from established Texas clubs while simultaneously applying lessons learned during this process back to the Texas clubs, strengthening the overall District 10 network, and increase contributions to the GAP Fund.

Support:

7. Club Collaboration & Best Practices: Establish a peer-to-peer program connecting clubs across different markets, sizes, and locations to exchange successful strategies and tactics. This initiative will foster mutual learning, collaboration, and support, helping individual clubs thrive through shared insights and best practices.

To further enhance communication, the District will host quarterly discussions with key local leadership groups—such as program chairs, membership teams, and government relations committees. Led by club representatives, these discussions will create an open forum for addressing challenges, sharing ideas, and aligning on District-wide initiatives.

Additionally, explore launching a monthly or bimonthly newsletter tailored for local chapter leadership, featuring tips, success stories, and important updates to keep all clubs informed and engaged.

8. Introduce a New Fall Funding Opportunity and bolster ADvention: Develop a fall initiative designed to provide consistent financial support to the District and local clubs, reducing reliance on spring fundraisers such as the American Advertising Awards and ADvention.  In addition, explore ways to increase ADvention attendance, including the potential addition of an in-person American Advertising Awards Gala for the District.

Serve:

9. Establish a Pro-Bono Volunteer Network with focus on DEI and Ad 2: Create a resource of advertising professionals, students, and freelancers available for pro-bono work with charities and non-profits. Leverage Ad 2 Clubs to ensure a diverse mix of DEI-focused organizations benefit, fostering both professional growth and community impact.

10. Increasing Member Value: Re-evaluate the current model for providing value to members, exploring new and innovative approaches beyond traditional programs to ensure relevance and meet evolving member needs.