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Virtual-First Approach for Greater Accessibility 

Starting May 1st, our monthly chapter meetings will transition to a fully virtual format and will be free of charge for all members. 

This shift addresses several key challenges we've faced: 

1. Our chapter spans an impressive geographic area from Abingdon to Lynchburg, making regular in-person attendance difficult for many members. 
2. We've struggled to provide an optimal experience in a hybrid model that equally serves both in-person attendees and online participants. 
3. Many of you have indicated that Tuesday evenings conflict with other commitments. 

In response, we're moving our chapter meetings to Thursday evenings to increase participation. Based on initial pilots of the virtual format, we've already seen how this approach enables us to access a more diverse pool of speakers at minimal cost, allowing us to keep these valuable events free for our membership. 

Maintaining Valuable Connections 

While embracing virtual convenience, we recognize the irreplaceable value of networking. To maintain this crucial element: 

• Our popular coffee chats will continue on the first Tuesday of every month, free for both members and non-members. These coffee chats are virtual and will remain virtual to ensure accessibility for all members across our extensive geographic footprint 
• We're launching quarterly dedicated in-person networking events that will rotate between Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Blacksburg 

• As membership engagement increases, we hope to expand these in-person networking opportunities to a monthly cadence 

• We're pleased to announce our investment in a new mentor/mentee program, designed to foster professional development and meaningful connections, whether pursuing certifications, entering your career, or in a transitioning state in your career 

Adjusted Membership Structure 

After conducting a competitive review of other chapters, we're implementing a modest adjustment to our fee structure: 

• Standard membership will be $35 per year ($5 increase) 

• Student membership will be reduced to $15 per year 

While there is a slight increase in the annual membership fee for standard members, this is more than offset by making monthly chapter meetings free for all members. This revised structure will help us deliver enhanced value while making membership more accessible to students from the numerous educational institutions in our region including: Roanoke College, Hollins University, Liberty University, Virginia Tech, Radford University, New River Community College, Wytheville Community College, and Southwest Virginia Community College. 

Expanding Our Offerings 

As we've researched what other successful chapters are doing, we've discovered many exciting possibilities to enhance member value, including book clubs, job fairs, and volunteer days.  

We're pleased to confirm that we will continue hosting our bi-annual new member orientation sessions, and we're excited to announce that planning is underway for our chapter volunteer day this summer. Stay tuned for more details about this opportunity to give back to our community while connecting with fellow members. 

Your Voice Matters 

Your feedback drives our evolution. We've already received excellent event and speaker suggestions—please keep those coming! Moving forward, we'll be sending surveys after each event to ensure we continue adapting our programming to meet your needs and desires. 

If you have ideas or would like to support any of our current or future chapter offerings, please reach out to our leadership team. Your participation makes our chapter stronger! 

Thank you for being a valued member of our community. We're excited about these changes and the opportunities they create for all of us to connect, learn, and grow together. 

Megan Adkins, Chapter President