Dear ILTAns! As I write this, ASCEND is already over a week behind us, but I am still reveling in what we accomplished!
Some items that were particularly notable for me…
This was the biggest gathering of ILTA Volunteers and Staff in one place outside ILTACON. That speaks for itself. Thanks for giving up your weekend and working so hard to deliver for ILTA! A special shout-out to my staff for a logistical and organizational job well done!
Diversity and Inclusion Task Force (DITF). At last year’s ASCEND, one of our Hack-a-Thon groups recommended adding a new Core Value around Diversity and Inclusion – which we accomplished. This year, we added to ASCEND our Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. They have already suggested several “low hanging fruit” opportunities for ILTA around D&I issues – and the windows of their ASCEND meeting room were covered with dozens more.
Partner Advisory Council (PAC) – and Other Business Partner Volunteers. I was thrilled that our PAC members could join us, along with business partner volunteers from the DITF! The mutual learning was great and leap-frogged us down the path of greater business partner integration.
Volunteer Awards. I loved the award names. I loved the award descriptions. And I thought the winners were deserving! So many of you were nominated, and the nominations demonstrated tremendous affection and respect. BTW, Jim McKenna, you make a heck of a town crier! The bell was particularly awesome!
Hack-a-Thons. Even though I could not attend one, I have been reviewing the notes over the past week. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who attended! Your commitment to creative thought at 8:00 a.m. was particularly impressive! A special thanks to our facilitators and note takers. The feedback on existing ideas – and the myriad new ideas that resulted from the process – will be invaluable as we move through our strategic planning process.
New People, New Nations. For some of you, this was your first ASCEND. We were tickled to welcome you! And we had 7 nations represented, with volunteers from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
And my only regret from ASCEND? I did not have the chance to visit with each and every one of you in person! We need to tend to that at the next ILTA event where we are together in person!
Yes, ASCEND 2020 is over, but the topics and sessions you developed, the programming and content you planned, the initiatives you ideated, and the friendships you created and/or deepened will enrich ILTA throughout 2020 and beyond. And hopefully you had a little fun.
Thank you for inspiring me! Thank you for all you do for ILTA!
Joy Heath Rush
CEO
ILTA