By Peter Dovnar I was honored to be elected CADM President at the Annual Membership Meeting on August 10, and I look forward to serving you this year. This year, the CADM Board will focus on five goals: Increase PAID Premier memberships. A year ago, the Board implemented the new membership model of Premier and Basic membership. Premier members pay dues and received Premier benefits, such as free registration to Membership Meetings, CADM Meet Ups, CADM Webinars as well as 30% discounts for Tempo Awards entries and other events. Our goal is to convert current Basic members to Premier, as well as to recruit new members. Increase member engagement in committees. To learn about becoming involved, contact Glenda Sharp at 312-849-2236 or info@cadm.org. Our association consists of eight committees. Membership, chaired by Andy Calmontes, is responsible for acquisition and retention. Sponsorship/Advertising is chaired by Marisa Marinelli. Networking, chaired by Candy Amato, oversees our Membership Meetings and CADM Meet Ups. Suzy Jackson chairs Tempo Awards. Direct from the Heart [DFTH], CADM's public service project helping nonprofits, is chaired by Betsy Harman. Education oversees CADM Webinars, Boot Camp, the 2018 Uline Basic Course and other education opportunities. Vice President Rosann Bartle is acting chair as the Board seeks a member to fill the position. Marketing works with all committees as well as oversees adMarks newsletter, our weekly events emails and website administration. Executive Glenda Sharp oversees these efforts as the Board seeks a member to fill the position. Executive Committee, consisting of the CADM officers. Increase member and sponsor engagement at programs/events. We plan 5 Membership Meetings, 4 CADM Meet Ups, and 3 Educational webinars, 3 Boot Camps, a Basic Course for Uline employees in Pleasant Prairie, WI, Tempo Awards and a partner event with another organization. Break even financially. CADM will reduce our fixed costs. We will not raise member dues and sponsorship fees. We will provide more value to our members. We will provide more value and opportunities for sponsors. Evolve the brand. Does the "Chicago Association of Direct Marketing" accurately describe what we do? We will explore modernizing the brand this year. By the time you receive your adMarks, we will have completed our Annual Membership Meeting and September 12 Webinar on Content. Did you miss the webinar? Then join us for our September 20 Boot Camp on Developing Compelling Content. I look forward to seeing you at an event. Peter Dovnar is Executive Vice President Client Engagement at Everspring Inc. Contact him at pdovnar@gmail.com.
