In this issue
June 2026 Newsletter 
President's Report
One thing I have been reminded of lately, stepping into a new role and a new environment, is how quickly people fill in the blanks when communication is unclear. Most of the time, it is not about bad intentions. It is about timing, assumptions, incomplete information, or simply people moving too fast to realize others are trying to catch up.
But when people do not fully understand what is happening around them, they naturally start writing the story themselves. And those stories are rarely small. A missed detail becomes exclusion. A delayed conversation becomes secrecy. A lack of clarity becomes distrust. That is how disconnect quietly starts to build inside teams, even when nobody intended for it to happen.
That is exactly why Zeina Boydoun’s presentation last week resonated with me so much. I sat there thinking about how relevant this topic is for every organization navigating change, growth, transition, or even just day-to-day communication. Zeina did not just talk about the problem. She gave practical ways to get ahead of confusion, communicate with more intention, and bring people along rather than unintentionally leaving them behind.
I walked away from that presentation feeling more thoughtful about the role communication plays in trust, culture, and leadership. That is exactly what strong programming should do… give us tools we can immediately bring back to our workplaces and apply in meaningful ways. A huge thank you to Zeina and to Affinity Consulting for continuing to support this chapter so well.
Mark your calendar for June 16, when we will be tackling Turning Public Speaking Nerves Into Confidence. If your stomach drops at the thought of standing in front of a room, trust me… you are not alone. This presentation will be giving tips and tricks to help you make it through your next public speaking event with ease!
One more thing before I sign off. We are still looking for members to join the Board and step into a few committee roles. I promise this is not a heavy lift! If you have ever walked away from one of our events with a new idea, a helpful connection, or something that made your job a little easier, this is your invitation to help us continue building that experience for others. We need fresh voices, fresh ideas, and people who care about where this chapter is headed. If that sounds even a little like you, please reach out to any member of the Board. We would love to connect and help find the right committee for you.
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”
– James Humes
