I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and taking some much-deserved time off work. Even if you aren’t traveling or have a vacation planned, taking time off gives your mind a break and your body time to rest. The stress of our jobs is real, and it can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Don’t take my word for it; check out the Forbes article on Why Taking Vacation Time Could Save Your Life.
GMC 2022 SYMPOSIUM
In case you missed it, our GMC Symposium is back and in person! The Symposium is a once-a-year opportunity to come together with your peers, learn best-practice techniques, and grow your professional skills and we do not take our responsibility to deliver lightly. We are hosting our “Wonders of the Midwest: GMC Proposal Fair” on October 10-12 in St. Paul, Minnesota. If you are interested in speaking or sponsoring for the upcoming Symposium, reach out to our Events Chair, Andrea Milakis or visit our website and stay tuned for more registration information, call for abstracts and sponsors, and other important event details.
NEW GMC LinkedIn Page
Big announcement! We finally switched from the GMC group and now have a Greater Midwest Chapter LinkedIn Page. Creating an official profile page allows us to tag our chapter in posts and have more control of our content. We are still in the process of transferring content from the group page to the profile page but visit our page and click follow! Are you social media savvy and have ideas to share or want to get involved? Contact Loni Hawks to get involved.
Shortlisted Episodes Live!
Our newly-launched podcast, Shortlisted, has four episodes posted and ready for your listening. In the latest episode, host Paul Lockwood and Heather Finch chat with Sonali Oberg and Membership Chairs Lindsay Lange and Kaitlin Kousaie to discuss challenges and successes with the APMP certification exam. If you are interested in being a guest or have a topic idea for Shortlisted, contact Marketing Chair Kati Stutsman. Contact Lindsay and Kaitlin to learn more about the Certification Study Group and how you can earn a voucher to take your Foundation or Practitioner exam.
We continue to implement educational programs through our monthly webinars and our Mentorship Program, offer networking through the Consultant’s Virtual Networking Group or member meetups, and continually assess how to serve you. If you have ideas, want to get involved, or have questions about our programs, contact me!
Want to get more involved? We would love to have you!
Let us know if you want to get more involved in the chapter! Our goal is to provide educational opportunities and resources to serve our members. Our Board of Directors has several initiatives in the hopper and looking for extra volunteers, ideas and suggestions, and feedback to improve our offerings. Here is how you can get involved:
- GMC Symposium — we always need extra hands to make this event amazing!
- Marketing support — contact Kati Stutsman to contribute a blog post, be a guest on the Shortlisted Podcast, or lend your creativity for graphic support
- Lunch and Learn Webinars — contact Tony Des Chenes if you want to be a presenter or have a topic worth discussing.
- Local Meetups — if you want to plan a local event to connect with other bid and proposal professionals, we’re here to help!
- Mentorship program — even though our program is underway, we can get you signed up for next year!
- Certification Study Group — if one of your goals is to get your certification, we can help you achieve that goal!
- GMC Gives Back — we have several programs to help you and other members during times of uncertainty. Or, if you are faced with a sticky situation and need some advice, let Dear GMC answer your burning questions
- Virtual Networking Group — if you want to connect with other members or consultants, join our monthly coffee chats.
We have ambitious goals, but with our leaders and your help, just about anything is possible. Remember, we are here to serve you. Do not hesitate to reach out to our Board of Directors throughout the year. We welcome your ideas, suggestions, feedback, and volunteer time.
Thank you,
Katherine Becchina, CF APMP | 2022 Chapter President