Peace of Mind Organizing

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14 May 2012

Todayis my last day serving on the board of directors of the St. Louis chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-St. Louis). That feels big. In my seven years as a professional organizer, I’ve always served on the NAPO-St. Louis board.

NAPO-St. Louis was chartered in 2006. Before that, it was a chapter in formation for maybe a year. I wasn’t part of those original formation meetings, but as soon as the founders reached out to me (due to my membership in the national NAPO association), I jumped at the chance to get involved. Prior to that, I felt alone as I explored this new career. Once I went to my first meeting of the not-yet-a-chapter NAPO-St. Louis, I knew I was home.

I was tapped to be on that first board. I served as Membership Director for a couple of years, and back then everybody did everything, so I was also instrumental in setting up the chapter’s website. I worked side by side on that with Aby Garvey, another of the original board members.

In my second year as Membership Director, I also served as Vice President and when the President, Lori Bickel, left the industry and dropped her membership at the end of 2007, I finished her term. Then I served two terms as President. And now I’m finishing up two terms as Immediate Past President. As of Wednesday, I won’t be a board member any more.

I have such mixed emotions about this! Part of me is thrilled. I’ve logged a lot of hours on behalf of NAPO-St. Louis and this will free up some time in my schedule.

But part of me is sad, too. It’ll be very strange not to be part of the leadership of this tremendous chapter.

The largest part of me is proud, though. I am so proud of what this chapter has become.

My successor, Tiffany Engler has taken the chapter to the next level. We now have 36 regular members and 10 associate members. We have a really happy, collegial membership. We have active volunteers. Back in the day, there were just a few of us doing everything (because at the beginning we had fewer than 20 members). Now we have a multitude of volunteer positions and people stepping up to do them.

We have a community service project and we’re planning a big public event in 2013. Tiffany and the board have done an amazing job.

Tiffany becomes Immediate Past President on Wednesday, succeeded by Denise Lee, who is going to be another tremendous leader. Denise is supported a by a terrific board and I’m confident she’ll take the chapter to yet another level.

If you’re a professional organizer and you have a NAPO chapter in your area, I urge you to get involved. I don’t know where I’d be in my business if it weren’t for NAPO-St. Louis. Being involved in the chapter on the board level has had so many benefits for me and my business. It’s developed my leadership skills, it’s increased my profile in the community, it’s allowed to get to know other terrific organizers whom I use on my teams. It’s given me a community. Its given me many precious friends. And I’m grateful.

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