AAF - North Central Indiana

Tip of the Month: Eliminate unnecessary meetings. As an extrovert, I am drawn to new people and staying connected to the ones I know. But one of the downfalls of this pattern is that often I get overwhelmed by the number of people who want to meet in person. The only way for me to avoid people overload is to keep unnecessary meetings off the calendar. I still meet with people when it's essential to moving a project or relationship forward or when I really want to. I now manage most of my professional relationships through e-mail, web conferencing and quick phone calls. Try it!

We appreciate our members that have offered their support of our new name and encouragement throughout the summer. The members approved the name change and bylaws on 8/22/08 by an email vote. Your support ensures our future success and helps pave the way for branding with the national AAF.

Want to know what we did this summer?

• Communications Director Kevin Hamstra has been burning the midnight oil to develop and launch our brand new website. In future newsletters, we'll tell you about all the really cool features that await our members. Also watch for more news, photos and sponsor opportunities that will appear online soon.
• Membership Co-Directors Jeanine Phipps and Kathy Cole have been busy cleaning up the database to ensure that each of you will get timely information. They are also working with our development directors on new membership and sponsorship packages to be announced in the fall.
• Program Co-Directors Allison Meadows and Traci Robison have lined up an incredible list of national-level speakers. It's hard to imagine the amount of work it takes to secure speakers and arrange all the details of their visits. I can't wait to hear from the diverse speakers that we are bringing in this year.
• Hospitality Co-Directors Kristy Blair and Shawn Borga are securing our speaker series venue, planning menus and working out the many details of planning our top notch events. They are ensuring that the sound system will be better than last year.
• Our new Treasurer John Metzinger has been pouring over our books, developing a budget and putting policies in place to help our organization remain "in the black"
• President-Elect Stephanie Hainje, Secretary Tina Parker and other members are developing collateral materials, sending out press releases and creating newsletters and other publications to make sure our members and our community are informed. .
• Development Co-Directors Steve Hall and Dan Rhodes are hard at work obtaining sponsors to help cover expenses of the high caliber national speakers we have booked. They also have some exciting plans for an awesome ADDY awards banquet in February.
• Past President David Huhnke has been working with Sharon, Helen Magazine, and Pam, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and many committee members to find Men for Mentors. We need you to commit to the young men in our community to help guide them to a successful life.

Now, we need your help! Watch for a committee sign up at our September meeting.

AAF-NCI kick-off is Thursday, Sept. 25th . You will not want to miss this one. We need you to invite your colleagues and friends. And, we need your RSVPs by Sept. 22. Jeff Havens from Chicago is a phenomenal speaker who will talk about how to "uncrappify your life".

I'm excited and can't wait to see all of you at the September Luncheon.

Creatively yours,
Michelle Kreinbrook, President
AAF-North Central