itSMFA 2017 August Bulletin Bulletin - August - 2017 | Page 3

Chair’s Report
CHAIRS REPORT
A Word from the Chairman
Dear Members
I am looking forward to the opening of our National
Conference next week and with it, the chance to catch up
with many of you personally for the first time in twelve
months, and for some the first time. This bringing together of
our professional fraternity is of course fundamentally
important to our national identity and continued relevance as
an organisation. At the Conference we forge and strengthen
our connections.
We are described as a ‘Forum’ and I continue to think of this
as a fraternity of people united by common interests and
professional curiosity. The structures of what is a national
organisation are based on this shared commitment and the
willingness to collaborate and work across occupational
boundaries. These are what provide itSMF with its resilience
and durability – the willingness of people like yourselves
3 itSMF Bulletin—August 2017
to jump in and volunteer for all the jobs required
to deliver 30+ seminars of targeted professional develop-
ment nationally while you juggle work / family / life
commitments which are all demanding your time and
effort.
As I remarked earlier, I hope I get a chance to thank you
personally at our 20 th National Conference – itself a
remarkable milestone and one we should all be very proud
of.
It is a long way from the end of our journey though, and in
future years it will be regarded as a major milestone on the
journey of what I regard as a remarkable organisation.
Thanks for your great work and I look forward to our
continued connection.
Chai