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August 15, 2019

AFP New Member Chronicles

two women holding and looking at map looking confused and lostAnn and Amy crack the code of AFP member benefit

By Amy Blumenthal, Principal, Blumenthal Consulting and
Ann Sebald, Mission Advancement Director for Lighthouse Youth Centers

AFPSEWI Marketing Committee Members

Aren’t you glad that your membership in AFP of Southeastern Wisconsin provides you with so many amazing resources? But do you also feel a bit bewildered or overwhelmed, like you don’t know where to start, or how to access these valuable tools? If so, you’re not alone – both newcomers and veterans can feel that way.

We know this from personal experience because we – Amy Blumenthal and Ann Sebald – just joined AFPSEWI this spring. We both wished there was someone who could help us navigate all of the resources we learned about in the “Membership 101” workshop we attended in April – there was so much information that the session lasted an hour!

And now our wish has turned into a volunteer assignment: this new blog that you are reading! In this regular feature, we are going to act as pathfinders for other new members (and also for the 55% of veteran members who said in last year’s member survey that they also want help accessing member value).

Each month for the next year, we will help you on your own path of discovery by introducing you to the AFPSEWI resources and experiences that we find especially valuable. We think we know an excellent resource for fundraisers when we see one because, like you, we are both fundraising professionals.

Amy just launched her own fundraising consulting business, building on a 25-year development career that includes 15 years in Wisconsin working in fundraising and campaign management for UW-Milwaukee, Marquette University, and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

For the past five+ years, Ann had a blast as the Director of Development for Time of Grace Ministries. She just moved into a new position as Mission Advancement Director for Lighthouse Youth Centers in August, and she is working toward gaining CFRE status.

Please look for our blog each month in the AFPSEWI chapter update and on the website. We will share tips to help you discover amazing resources that maximize the value of your membership. We’re so excited to embark on this project, and we hope it’s of help to the wonderful AFP community that has welcomed us both so warmly!