WTS-DC at the Chapter Leadership Summit
By Sophie Guiny, WTS-DC
Earlier this year, WTS welcomed several new Directors of the WTS Foundation Board, the Board of Directors, and an interim CEO. So it only felt right that the Chapter Leadership Development was renamed the Chapter Leadership Summit. During the one and a half day event, Chapter leaders from across the United States and Canada met to discuss best practices and governance and to learn about WTS International (WTSI)'s Strategic Initiatives.
The Chicago Chapter hosted a reception on Wednesday evening where participants were welcomed to Rosemont, IL, the area around Chicago O'Hare airport. The reception was a lively event where participants mingled with each other and members of the Foundation Board, Board of Directors, and WTSI staff.
In the morning, Bridgette Beato, Chair of the Board of Directors, opened the event with a message that set the tone for our time together. She focused on making sure that everyone felt welcomed and seen and committed the organization to listening to the concerns of the Chapters. She discussed the benefits of a culture of appreciation and a reminder that as a volunteer organization, the Chapters lead much of the work we do.
One of the focuses of the morning sessions was the WTSI pillars. These ideas will be guiding much of the work the Foundation and Board of Directors will be doing. The four pillars are:
- Expanding membership modes of transportation
- Increasing chapter and membership engagement
- Adding value for small businesses
- Ensuring WTS resiliency
The second half of the day, and part of day two, was spent on Chapter best practices. Breakout sessions included topics on chapter membership; operations and administration; fundraising; recruitment and onboarding; succession planning; equity, diversity, and inclusion; and mentor/protege programs. These topics were presented multiple times which allowed participants to rotate through sessions, or attend a session on a topic multiple times. Rather than being led by WTSI staff, these sessions showcased what different chapters are doing.
The summit wrapped up with a presentation on the WTS Foundation and TransportationYOU, and Chapter reporting best practices. The final session covered the upcoming Annual Meeting in Toronto in May 2025. WTSI and the Toronto Chapter reminded everyone to obtain or renew their passports, or secure other travel documents, since they will be necessary to attend the conference in Canada. Of particular interest was the schedule for Scholarships. In order to give scholarship recipients time to arrange travel, Chapter submissions will be due on January 15, 2025 and Chapters and recipients will be notified of selections by March 2025.
While the Chapter Leadership Summit made efficient use of everyone's time, there was still plenty of opportunity for impromptu conversations, forming new relationships, and catching up with friends. One of the great aspects of these types of gatherings is getting insight into what other Chapters are accomplishing, and sharing ideas with each other. Through these types of conversations, connections form, and a community of professionals committed to advancing women in transportation continue to grow.
