President's Message January 2023

With the new year of 2023 we have enormous promise and hope. In 2023 we welcome some fresh faces as members, over 110 new members in 2022 (thank you David Russell, Brent Hill, and all those that helped grow our membership), and we have fresh faces on our board as well. I would like to Welcome Austin Barnes, John Wheeler, and Joe Neal Kerr, while thanking those that are leaving, including Danny O’Connell.

As you may know NAIFA Texas has a strategic plan created in 2019 under the guidance of then President Hollie Gandy. Under our 2022 President Andra Grava, we updated the strategic plan and made changes. As Your incoming President, the board and I have agreed on the three strategic priorities we are focusing on, some changes we are making, and the goals for our organization. The mantra for the year is” to Positively Grow NAIFA Texas”

The Three Strategic Priorities for NAIFA Texas in 2023 are the following:

1.??????Positive Membership Growth

2.??????Active Membership Engagement

3.??????Advocacy for our clients and for ourselves.

Positive Membership Growth:

?????????????The lifeblood of our organization is membership. We have seen a steady decline in membership over the last fifteen years, but over the past couple we have seen a flattening out of that and even growth. Some of our top industry leaders have retired or unfortunately passed on, and now it is up to a new group to lead NAIFA Texas to the top and keep it there. Our new membership chair, Jay Moyer, will be working with the committees across the state to help grow.

·??????Our Goal is to grow positively this year by 5%. We all need to advocate for our association, and by doing that we can advocate for our clients and our industry better and more effectively. Did you know the benefits you can receive for being a member?

·??????Please check out Marketplace | Benefits, Business Development, CRM | NAIFA (chalicenetwork.com) and see what being a member of NAIFA and NAIFA Texas can bring you.?Share these benefits with the colleagues you know.

·??????We need to attract our colleagues and friends to this great association.???????

Membership Engagement

?????????????Just growing is not enough though, we must engage our members. I recently sat in a strategy session of one of our local chapters. Here is how we will engage differently:

·??????Starting with our State Conference February 21-23 in Austin learn more and register here and take advantage of the early bird rates. The conference Theme is “Advocating for our clients and ourselves” and we have a fantastic lineup of speakers and sponsors.

·??????Growing and building on our sponsorship relationship. Jim Thompson and Mark Jones, and many of you, have worked hard to partner with our topflight group of sponsors here (and click on sponsors tab).

·??????Changing the emails and our communication to provide industry tips, sales ideas where possible, practice development, and lead generation ideas plus hearing from our members about what NAIFA does for them, adding this information to our website. I only ask you to read it, engage and share our communications with others.

·??????Jason Talley has put together our first in person LILI class in a couple of years, these are our future leaders, join them February 21st, 2023, for their graduation.

·??????Rick Demko has agreed to lead the new Membership Engagement Committee (formerly Professional Development) and with his team has created a fantastic calendar of events, including a Professional Book Club, industry panels, and so much more. You can view the calendar of events here.

·??????I am Making a promise to all of you that I will make it to every local chapter and affiliate this year, at least once, please reach out to me at [email protected] to let me know when you want me to be there.?In addition, I plan on creating and leading events in areas we have underserved including the Rio Grande Valley, Lubbock, Central Texas, and Waco.

·??????John Wheeler, David Russell, Austin Barnes, and all the board members will be working on building and developing Chapter and Affiliate engagement to better serve and build our association.

·??????Joe Neal Kerr is leading our Texas Leaders Roundtable committee and building at least two events, one at our state conference, and another later in the year. Registration renewals will be going out in January.

·??????Lastly, the board has worked with areas across the state to increase ?participation and engagement and we have some very active areas, and am happy to see ones continue to grow like Corpus Christi under Lel Arandela, our Leader for the year for 2022, Fort Worth (appositive growth of 10% in 2022), and with Andrea Ames and Karen Easterling leading it we are seeing a resurgence in Austin as well, and this makes our association stronger.

Advocacy

?????????????Lastly, although just as important, is our advocacy program. Jason Talley is leading this with the assistance of Deborah Gary, and we will be kicking it off with our bi-annual Legislative Day February 22, as part of our state conference. Let us overwhelm the capitol with our enthusiasm, knowledge, and efforts to advocate for our clients.

NAIFA Texas is at a great point for us to grow and be strong. I am asking for your support in referring potential members, attending our state conference, and being involved. I know this is a big ask from all of you, together though, we will be the best association and organization and I look forward to being a part of this.

If I can be of any assistance, please let me know at 512-680-6851 or [email protected].?