Carolinas Chapter Update

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Guppy737

Member
To help maximize reaching the SAPFM membership, I am re-posting the email I recently sent to all of you regarding the possible rejuvenation of the Carolinas Chapter. Your honest feedback is welcome!
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Greetings from eastern NC! My name is Phil Fallin and I have been a SAPFM member for a number of years, joined the Board of Directors (BoD) a year ago and am currently serving as one of two Vice-Presidents.

At a recent BoD meeting we discussed the possibility of re-activating the SAPFM Carolinas Chapter, which would cover, primarily, North and South Carolina. This letter is the first step in that exploratory venture. I am trying to assess how best to serve the SAPFM membership and gauge your interest in re-invigorating this long-dormant Chapter. Put simply, I am asking for your feedback concerning what you would like to see going forward. Please take a moment and consider the following bullet points and let me know your thoughts.
  • There are actually two other Chapters in this area—the Back Country Chapter and the Tidewater Chapter (you can see their locations and coverage areas on the SAPFM website). Do we need this third dedicated breakout? Interesting data-points for your consideration: I live in Goldsboro NC (75 miles east of Raleigh) and there are actually 31 current SAPFM members within 100 miles of my location. If I look out to an area within 150 miles, that number grows to 67. Using Raleigh as a central point would find an additional 6-10 members in similar areas. Florence SC would yield a slightly lesser number.
  • You may be affiliated with another Chapter(s) already—and that’s great! If we re-ignite the Carolinas Chapter, what are a couple of features you’d like to see? Are there new or different areas of interest you may have?
  • Chapters typically try and host two to four meetings a year and some produce periodic newsletters. Obviously, these events require a bit of coordination and background work to put together. Would you be willing to help? Are you interested in serving as the Chapter Lead, Co-chair, Newsletter editor or in any other capacity?
  • Any other inputs or thoughts? SAPFM is your organization—so let me know.
You may be wondering why I am sending this to the entire membership instead of simply targeting our members currently listed on the SAPFM Directory with NC/SC addresses. The reasons are simple: the directory may need updating as members may have moved into or out of this region—and I know others have vacation homes in this area, so it makes sense to canvass the entire group. Besides, if we re-establish this—everyone, of course would always be welcome.

Thank you for your time and consideration. You can reach me at carolinas-chapter@sapfm.org. I look forward to hearing from you—and if you will be attending the upcoming Mid-Year Conference at the Connecticut Valley School of Working, I’ll see you there!

Phil
 
If the Carolina’s chapter were re-activated I would try to attend meetings. I am in Winston Salem and have most often attended Tidewater chapter meetings since the BackCountry chapter has not met in years.
 
I'm in Raleigh, NC. I attend the Tidewater chapter meetings when they're in NC. I would like to see a Carolina's chapter in the Raleigh area. I enjoy the SAPFM meetings and attend whenever I can.
 
Charlie and Jim, go into your profile and add the Blue Ridge chapter as one you follow. If you drive from Winston Salem or Raleigh to Tidewater, some BR meetings may actually be closer for you. I try to move the meetings around our large Commonwealth. Some of us spend a night or two in the vicinity of the meetings.
 
Phil - I may be interested in attending some NC meetings - daughter and her family live in Charlotte. And MESDA is always worth the trip.
 
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