Dear Chicago SITE Member:
My mission as the President for SITE Chicago Chapter is to build on the momentum for change. To maintain this momentum, we must enact our agenda, increase membership and ensure members become more involved in Chapter activities. I am confident that with your help, we will move forward on all these fronts and become recognized as one of the premier SITE Chapters in the world.
Let me start by introducing Chicago SITE's new Officers and Board of Directors for the 2008 Term:
| Bich-Lien Kaldahl | | President |
| Jeff Weinman | | Vice President &
Treasurer |
| Andrew Surma | | Board Member |
| Julie Hedlund | | Board Member |
| Neela Johnston | | Board Member |
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| Kari Hennigan | | Board Member |
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| Teresa Matamoros | | Board Member |
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| Teresa Nelson Buescher | | Board Member |
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Your Officers and Board, assisted by a few committed members, met on January 9th to formulate plans for your Chicago SITE Chapter during the coming year.
Our first order of business - and critical to our mission to upgrade the profile of the Chapter – is to determine each individual member's level of commitment to the work that needs to get done. As you consider and respond to the options below, I ask you to carefully determine what role you wish to play in our collective improvement. With all of you, this can become a great Chapter. Without you, the job simply cannot get done. With this in mind, kindly check off the ways you can personally assist.
Educational Seminars – Chaired by Neela Johnston. Committee members will plan up to two breakfasts or luncheons per year to be held in the Chicagoland area and open to all SITE Chicago Chapter members and their guests. Duties include planning and venue selection, negotiation of price, invitations, selection of guest speakers and other duties necessary to make the luncheons premier networking opportunities.
Networking Event/Auction – Co-Chaired by Julie Hedlund and Kari Hennigan. Committee members will be expected organize a networking event in Spring and Summer. Responsibilities include venue selection, menu development, invitations, securing and cataloguing auction items, developing event agenda and other activities as required to put together a premier networking opportunity.
Chapter Retreat – Co-Chaired by Teresa Matamoros and Teresa Nelson Buescher. Committee members will organize a three day/two night educational retreat for suppliers and buyers. Responsibilities include site selection, development and management of an agenda, identification of guest speakers, negotiation of hotel/meal rates, soliciting sponsorships to offset costs, marketing of the retreat and other activities as required to make this a premier educational opportunity for our membership.
Young Leaders Activities – Chaired by Jeff Weinman. We need to more broadly engage college aged youth who have expressed an interest in the Travel and Tourism Industry. Committee members will organize on-campus events, informational seminars. In addition, committee members will seek out local college faculty in order to influence lesson plans for travel/tourism related courses. Finally, committee members will identify/develop opportunities for local college students to interact with SITE members at various gatherings and solicit volunteers from locals schools to help with SITE activities. Ideally, this program would develop into some type of credit bearing independent study course for travel/tourism majors.
Golf and Recreational Events – Co-Chaired by Jeff Weinman and Andy Surma. Let's also have some fun! Committee members will organize recreational events for SITE members and SITE member clients. Responsibilities include activity and venue selection, sponsorship solicitation, marketing of the activities and other duties necessary to make these events fun-filled and in demand.
Serve as a host/hostess/greeter at a SITE Event
Donate an item/items to the Auction
Use your proprietary database to send personal invitations to our Chicago SITE Events
