“To be yourself is all that you can do” – The late Chris Cornell

Last month, I spoke to the value of engaged membership for both the association and the individual. With that being the case, I feel it would be unfair for me to leave you with an ask and not provide guidance on how to be that engaged member. The thing I hear the most as a member of the board | executive committee, and now the Chair of NAFTZ, is, “I can’t do that” or, “I just am not comfortable doing that”. Both of these responses are absolutely understandable, especially as you try and grow your engagement with our association.

“To be yourself (as a member) is all that you can do”, and because we have a plethora of ways for you to be involved, you will not need to be anything else. If you are not comfortable with calling people to join the association, we can use help with advocacy. If speaking is not your thing, and you don’t want to present at the conference, we’d love to have you help us plan for the event up front. Finding placement for your strengths, and providing different opportunities, is one of our talents.

Opportunities to Volunteer:

• Committee participation is the best first step you can take to be an engaged member. Through this avenue of participation, you meet other members and help shape strategy that will aid NAFTZ for long term success. A list of all of our committees can be found here:

https://naftz.org/get-involved/membership/committee-participation/

From there, you can simply click the red link to join a committee and check the options that best fit you! Be yourself, but don’t be afraid to step out of the box just a little here!

• I also encourage you to attend, and participate, in some of our monthly webinars. These are free to all active members (small fee for inactive/non-members), and is a great way to get involved in what NAFTZ offers and hear about current topics.  You may not be an “expert” in the offered topics, but they can assist you become one soon… and the next time you are asked to be involved on that topic, you will feel equipped and prepared to do so.

• Of course, we invite and encourage you to join us at our 2023 Events, and partner with us by promoting them on social media and sharing the Event opportunities with others in your professional circle.

1. Fundamentals of FTZ January 8-9^th New Orleans, Louisiana
2. Legislative Summit February 14^th – 15^th Washington DC
3. Spring Seminar May 21-23^rd Tucson, Arizona
4. Annual Conference & Exposition September 10-13^th Miami, Florida

• Advocacy is a major effort for NAFTZ now and looking to the future. We really need every single member’s help in this area. Advocacy can be a scary topic, but it doesn’t need to be… again, we are only asking you to “be yourself”. You can advocate by talking to people you know on the benefits of the FTZ program. You can sign NAFTZ provided letters to representatives; or you can take it a step further and make the NAFTZ introduction to representatives you are in contact with who need information on our programs.

Our mission with members is simple: support each individual member in their strengths and help them build their involvement and platform based on them simply being themselves.

Thank you for being “yourself” and giving of “yourself” for our organization. I look forward to seeing each one of you plug in and show us who you are.

Shane Williams
Chairman