President’s Message

Howdy!

It seems to me that life is finally getting back to normal. Many of our events, sporting events, and theatrical events are moving forward without incident. It is great to see people coming together! What a time to be in the fair and event business.

Firstly, let me thank every one of you for sticking with TAFE during these difficult times, and equally as important, thank you for sticking together. I am a big believer there are always things we can learn… especially during the difficult times. To me, one of the big takeaways from the pandemic is the trust we built with each other and how we learned from each other. As a result, we are a tighter, more collaborative group than ever before.

This is why I chose this year’s theme to be “Learning + Leadership = Legacy.” Our ability and commitment to learning is the foundation of our association. Learning can take place through educational sessions, newsletters, decorated speakers, through relationships, and networking. Remember, the key to us getting better is always about learning.

In addition to learning, we can never take for granted that leadership is what got us here. I define leadership “as motivating a group of people’s behavior to achieve a common goal bigger than their own.” While I know everyone has their own definition, I hope you will join me in supporting this definition as we go through this year.

Let’s consider: What common goal can we reach that is bigger than our own? And what behavior can we commit to in order to reach that goal?

When we combine our commitment to learning and accept our responsibility to serve as leaders, it will lead to legacy. Quite simply, these are the two foundational pieces that have made this organization so successful over time, and it is up to us to continue to build on this foundation….this legacy.

In closing, let’s do this! Let’s have a GREAT and meaningful year as we work together. Let’s commit to LEARN and LEAD so we are positively contributing to the LEGACY of TAFE!

Sincerely, Chris