Executive Director's Conference Message | February 2021
It’s the week after the conference, and I’m still overwhelmed.
CSMFO’s annual conference is my favorite event every year. My favorite week every year (and that includes vacations). While I knew our virtual event would be good, I was completely prepared to feel differently this year; to have it just be like any other week.
I have never been so happy to be proven wrong!
CSMFO’s in-person conferences are an amazing experience because of the members—everyone coming together in one spot creates this intangible and incomparable energy. The sessions are of course always fantastic, the keynote speakers inspiring, the big event always fun—but what makes it the best week of my year is the positivity each of you brings. The laughter, the smiles, the connection. And wow did you still bring that to the virtual event! I don’t know why I ever doubted you. I’m actually tearing up a bit just thinking about it. Each of you wanted to be there. You wanted to be educated and entertained and engaged. An awful lot of work went into building that event, but it was a success because you made it so.
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for bringing your all to our virtual event. Thank you for being you.
Like all of you, I’m eager to be back in person next year in San Diego. (Should I knock on wood? Throw salt over my shoulder? Turn in a circle and spit? I don’t want to jinx it.) Until then, however, we’re going to keep working to engage you virtually, with our chapter meetings, with our webinars, with our core courses, and with our fun little extras, like the steps challenge. Our next ‘extra’ will be similar to the November LinkedIn challenge, only this time on Facebook. We’ll post a prompt a day for the month of March, and invite all of you to respond to them. Use this as a way to keep last week’s energy going. Use it to stay connected—and hopefully to add a little smile to each of your days.
Thank you again to all of you, to the volunteers who put the conference together, and to the cadre of staff members we had working tirelessly behind the scenes. I’m proud to know you all.
Melissa Manchester, CAE, has served as CSMFO’s Executive Director since January 2009. Melissa is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in administrative and management services to trade associations. Melissa graduated from California State University, Sacramento, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English, and earned her MBA from Walden University with a concentration in nonprofit administration. Melissa received the prestigious Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in 2010, and does everything within her power to bring not just exceptional and professional service but also fun and laughter to her clients.
