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[ message from
headquarters ]

Summer Greetings, Members! in developing a SWOT analysis, review of our mission and begin
setting our priorities and crafting a plan. Overall, it may seem
Looking back at my Headquarters
Update this time last year, all regions of like a simple practice, and I guess the process itself really is… but
it’s the passionate conversations, group work and relationship
NYS were beginning to open, mostly in
“Phases” 1 and 2. I know we are all sick building taking place behind the scenes that really makes the
plan come alive.
of hearing about COVID-19 at this
point. But we received some excited Therefore, please watch your inboxes for your member poll. We
news earlier today. The Governor lifted greatly appreciate your participation in this important endeavor.
most social distancing and COVID-era restrictions. This is In the meantime, I invite you to take a peek at the committee
significant to our Conference and Education Committees, and board accomplishments on page 12. This is really just a
as they now have the official green light to plan a “mostly” small snapshot of the hours and hours of work and collaboration
traditional event. Of course things may change by the time your fellow members have devoted of their time. I am honored
January rolls around, but we’ll take the news as a light at the and humbled to work with such an amazing team of volunteers.
end of a very long tunnel and go with it!
In closing, thank you for your continued support of NYSAPLS.
Change is happening everywhere. Not only are we starting to Please feel free to contact our office with any questions or
see each other’s faces again, which is a beautiful thing, but we’re concerns you may have. In addition, we’re always looking for
seeing a global change in the way people are prioritizing both your feedback. Do you have an idea for a new membership
their home and work lives. What better timing to hold our next benefit, education program or event? Call or email us today!
Strategic Planning Retreat!? We do not have a crystal ball to Have a safe and healthy summer!
tell us what will happen in the next three years, but we have
something more important. YOU. An association is just that, Sincerely,
people. People with like minded goals associating with each
other, learning from each other and growing along the way.
Amber Carpenter
It is my pleasure to announce our next Strategic Planning Managing Director
Retreat will be held September 23-25, 2021. We are asking
each regional association to send two representatives.
In addition, we hope to have a representative from each
committee as well as our officers in attendance. Since our
whole membership cannot be present, we are asking for all
members to complete a very important task. Over the next
several weeks, all NYSAPLS members will be sent a poll
to participate in. The poll will help our Strategic Planning
Committee and retreat attendees learn what services and
programs are of most value to our members. We want to
know how you prefer to communicate, what we can do to
build a better organization and most importantly how we
can improve our relationship with you. The poll should only
take a few minutes of your time, but you will be helping to
shape the future of NYSAPLS. In addition, the NYSAPLS
Board of Directors will receive a separate and more in-depth
questionnaire focused on board governance.

From there, the strategic process begins. Our facilitator,
Susan Weinrich of the New York State Association of Non-
Profits (NYCON) will guide our strategic retreat participants

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 57 • NO 4/ 2021 • JULY/AUGUST 5