October 2007
October 2007 President’s Message by 2007/2008 ASID WI President Jodie Thill, ASID, LEED AP
Jodie Thill, ASID, LEED AP
Welcome to a new year for ASID Wisconsin. I am honored to serve as your president for the coming year. Below are the words that I shared with the chapter at the annual meeting held at the Overture Center in Madison. I hope to see you at an event soon; you just might find a new connection or a new source of inspiration. Please check the website and calendar often as there will be many exciting events throughout the year that you will not want to miss.
get Informed get Inspired get Involved
As I was trying to think of what to say this evening, how to kick off the coming ASID year I clicked on the ASID National website looking for inspiration. Each time I head to the website I find a new nugget of information. What I found was a little flash movie talking about design, what we practice everyday. It put into images that which we try to capture in each of our projects – a human centered solution that enhances the spaces we inhabit. It ended with three statements: get Informed – get Inspired – get Involved. It fit perfectly with what I have been trying to put into words, what has been floating around in my head for weeks. Thinking about what this year can hold for all of us. Challenging us to take the reigns – to get informed, get inspired and get involved. It is, in my guess, why we are all here. We are all looking for something to spark our creativity, to keep us interested, engaged, to answer our questions and help us find successful solutions. It may be as simple as looking for information about an Industry Partner Member’s product you are thinking of using or as complex as finding information on the impact of design on the capacity of young children to learn. Information – it is what we look for in the greater world everyday. This year will be about continuing to keep you informed through electronic communications, both by e-mail and on the ASID Wisconsin website as well as to host talented speakers who will present information you need to know to keep ahead in the industry.
Inspiration, what inspires you? I am inspired by the many volunteers of this organization; how they work tirelessly for the betterment of the world around them in their work and transfer that energy for the improvement of their profession. Each member has a story, whether they have been members for 30 days or 30 years. Students, so full of energy and excitement may not even be exactly sure what Interior Design holds for them, but are sure that they want a part in designing better spaces for a better world. Seasoned Professionals who have seen our profession grow and develop into the leading Interior Design Organization. For all of us, ASID Wisconsin has something to inspire-either within us or within someone we encounter. There are so many new and exciting developments in the chapter I hope you check out. One that is very inspiring is the opportunity to connect members from across the state with our new ASID Wisconsin electronic bulletin board. Check the weekly e-mail blast for the past several weeks, and you will find information on how to register. It is a great way to connect with members of all types practicing interior design throughout the state. In the coming year, I hope that you will find many ways to be inspired; whether connecting with an old friend or co-worker, meeting a new member, or finding a fellow alumna of your design program, attending a program, CEU or building tour, or finding inspiration through the work or words of others. Maybe you will be inspired by the incredible design celebrated at the ASID Design Gala to be held on Friday February 8, 2008 – inspired to enter your own project. Take a chance to recharge your creativity.
I find the last words found of the flash movie to be most important – get Involved. This organization continues to amaze me with the incredible people that step forward to volunteer each year. Whether it is meeting with students, planning an event, coordinating other volunteers or balancing the budget, there so many wonderful stories to be discovered, all it takes is to get involved. It is simple to get involved as well. I know that it may appear that for some of us, ASID is a lifestyle, something that we eat and breathe. That is not the case for most of our wonderful volunteers. There is a place for each of you to contribute whether you can commit to several hours or several months. For those of you interested in volunteering in a specific area, do not hesitate to contact the respective board member. You will find their contact information on the website. We hope that you find the board and all of our volunteers open to your new ideas and accessible to share your thoughts. I know that we as professionals and as individuals are always attempting to find more time, but I do know that the time that is given to involvement in ASID Wisconsin can be fulfilling in so many ways. It is my goal this year to provide opportunities for all of you to get Informed – get Inspired – get Involved. I look forward to seeing you at a chapter event, or connecting with you via our new ASID Wisconsin electronic bulletin board soon.
Jodie Thill, ASID, LEED AP
WI Chapter ASID President 2007-2008
