President's Message

Do you hear what I hear?

I love that song with Bing Crosby and David Bowie – so weird and yet so great, right?!?
 
Last month you were invited to provide feedback on our programs and operations through a survey which we then used for a strategic planning session / chapter observation session with Derek Mulhern from AFP Global. Derek is the Chapter Development Director and was a great facilitator of for our session. Based on your survey feedback we’ve been able to identify tasks we’d like to accomplish in the next 12-24 months to continue our chapter growth, member engagement and chapter support.
 
We heard you and two of the things survey responses supported was the continued support for fundraising education programming and networking opportunities. So, this December, the board has adjusted our programming schedule to offer you programming through a free webinar at your desk or on your phone from your remote office (or car, or local coffee shop) from us to you (via AFP Global) on Diversity in Fundraising. Webinar details and signup will come next week. We will not have a regular in person December chapter program – our chapter program will be through the AFP Global webinar and is free to all chapter members.
 
And, again, listening to the feedback we received, we’d like to share some holiday cheer with you….so we are carving out some time for a holiday chapter social on Tuesday, December 17th from 4 – 6pm at The Radius Building. Our dear friends at the Radius continue to support our chapter efforts and we thank them! I know parking can be a challenge, however, it’s a Tuesday and downtown City of SA parking after 5pm is free.
 
Our calendar year is ending with great strength for the chapter – Congratulations!
  • We’ve sustained and grown our chapter membership to more than 245 members!
  • We’ve grown our event and annual campaign revenue allowing us to move $12,000 into our investment account!
  • We’ve receive 20 nominations for National Philanthropy Day honors in February 2020!
  • We’ve received 11 applications for Board Executive Committee Service!
Chapter program attendance exceeded expectations with 45 attending the October Ethics presentation and 67 attending the November Growing Your Giving Day session!
 
Over the past Thanksgiving Day holiday, I had the occasion to attend services at Temple Beth El with a family member. I have driven past the historic synagogue probably a thousand times (or more) over the years I’ve lived in San Antonio (yes, I’ve lived on Mulberry, on Magnolia, on Mistletoe and on Rosewood!); however I’d never actually been in the building. The warmth and openness I received by the Temple members filled my heart. Upon entering the main Temple area, I saw quickly the reason for this: the main focal point of the prayer area is a high arch of marble over the Torah with a large golden inscription, “Though Shalt Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself”. Ah ha! This is why everyone was so nice – they live this way! And then I thought about how we are all really so similar. As a Catholic Christian, we read this same phrase and speak this same phrase throughout our liturgical year, too! At the end of the day, it’s really about love, isn’t it?
 
I started out this monthly newsletter’s President’s Message in January with the idea that philanthropy (from the Greek for “Love of Man”) is really about love. And, isn’t it great that we all get to work in some way with donors and with clients and with volunteers and with work colleagues to help bring more love into the world? And, now, at the end of my service year, I have the deep and profound honor of ending my service year with you in nearly the same words. Love. Love all of our neighbors – rich, poor, healthy, sick, young, not so young, happy, sad, from here or just visiting -- as we are able with compassion, support, friendship, or awareness.
 
I wish you the most wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends, peace, fun and laughter.
 
With the deepest respect for all you do every day of every year in service to those who can say thank you and to those who might never know of your work for them,
 
Mary Kay Martinez, CFRE
Chapter President 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS!

The Chapter Annual Campaign is underway and we have a MATCH! A generous anonymous donor has agreed to match .50 of every dollar you give in

this campaign up to $2,500.

Some of the items your support will enable our Chapter to provide include:

· Obtaining venues for monthly membership meetings,
· Website development and maintenance,
· Mentorships and scholarships,
· Trainings and webinars,
· Summer Socials and other networking opportunities.
 
 

 

AFP San Antonio Monthly Programming

12-17-2019

Holiday Social

Annual Meeting

TBD

December Program -- Webinar details coming soon.

 

 

 

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