Let’s not talk about the economy or the presidential elections. Let’s take a look at what’s going on with your local American Marketing Association chapter!

Accomplishments/Progress:

• In September, your Triangle AMA Chapter won the “Turn Around Chapter of the Year: 2007-2008 Chapter Excellence Award,” as the chapter exhibiting the most significant improvement overall, given the obstacles its members had to overcome. While your local Board is still scratching their heads wondering what these obstacles were, we’re proud to tell you this award recognized the Triangle Chapter as one of the four top-scoring AMA chapters in the United States! Congratulations are in order for our past President, Eric Schmidt, his board of directors, and Kathleen Schindler, who did an incredible job of pulling together our submission.
• Todd Henderson, a veteran AMA member and former VP of Communications for the chapter has been elected to the Board of Directors, where he will serve as a Director at Large.
• This month, the Triangle AMA Chapter will be submitting two community service grant requests for funding from AMA headquarters to support:
  • Our volunteer Marketing Assistance Program with the NC Center for Non-Profits and
  • Our volunteer Marketing Assistance Program for DignityUWear, a non-profit that provides new clothing to other charities across the US, including several agencies (disaster relief, homelessness, joblessness, poverty, etc.) right here in the greater Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill area.

If you’d like to learn more or get involved in any of the above worthy causes, please contact our VP of Volunteers, Brian Gossett at volunteer@triangleama.org.

Plans/Actions/Challenges:

• Join the Triangle Chapter of the American Marketing Association for a networking social on Thursday night, October 23 at Capstrat. There will be a brief panel discussion on the latest trends in video games and marketing followed by networking and a chance to test out your Rock Star chops and other video game skills. Confirmed panelists include Alex Macris, CEO of The Themis Group and Dana Cowley, head of public relations for Epic Games. While there is no cost to register for the event, please note attendance will be limited to the first 100 to register from the Triangle AMA website.
• We all know professional memberships generally pay off in direct proportion to a person's level of involvement. Volunteering with the Triangle AMA is rewarding both personally and professionally. To learn more about how you can get involved or volunteer with our chapter, please visit: http://www.triangleama.org/JoinConnectGrow/13/volunteer-opportunities-triangle-ama-nc/
• The chapter is hosting, for the first time ever, a Branding Boot Camp, December 4-6, 2008. Save money on travel expenses by attending this workshop locally! Register at www.triangleama.org.
• We’re looking to grow the chapter, with YOUR help and referrals, with the Fall 2008 Member Acquisition Campaign that runs through November 14. New members will get their $30 application fee waived (member and chapter fees still apply) and $20 prepaid MasterCard will still be offered as a special incentive. Another offer, $200 conference discount coupon, will also be available on the web, as an alternative to the $20 MasterCard.

There’s never been a better time to renew your membership, become a member, or become a more active member of the Triangle AMA Chapter than right now! With all that’s going on in the economy, why wouldn’t you want to be having fun and networking with the area’s leading marketing professionals? I hope to see you soon at our next meeting or social.