Links Inc

TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, CIVIC AND INTERCULTURAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.

APPROXIMATELY 1,500-2,500 MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION TYPICALLY COME TOGETHER TO PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MEMBER DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS. THESE SESSIONS PROVIDE SPECIFIC TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ON HOW TO DELIVER TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THE FIVE FACET PROGRAMS OF THE ORGANIZATION (THE ARTS, SERVICES TO YOUTH, NATIONAL TRENDS & SERVICES, INTERNATIONAL TRENDS & SERVICES, AND HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES). IN ADDITION, THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS IN THE AREAS OF COMMUNICATION, FINANCIAL, TECHNOLOGY, AND DIVERSE OTHER TOPICS.THE AREA CONFERENCE ALSO PROVIDES RECOGNITION FOR CHAPTERS WHO HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING IN THE PAST BIENNIUM IN EXECUTING PROGRAMMING IN THE FIVE FACET PROGRAM THRUSTS. CHAPTERS PREPARE EXHIBITS ON THEIR PROGRAMING AND SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR THEIR PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES. THESE SUBMISSIONS ARE JUDGED AND GRANTS ARE AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING PROGRAMMING. BUSINESS OF THE AREA IS CONDUCTED AT THE CONFERENCE WITH PLENARY SESSIONS TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AS DICTATED BY THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION. ELECTIONS ARE HELD FOR THE AREA OFFICER POSITIONS AND REPORTING ON THE PRIOR FISCAL YEARS IS PROVIDED TO THE DELEGATES AND MEMBERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOLD SEVERAL PUBLIC FORUMS TO INFORM THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE CONFERENCE IS HELD ABOUT THE IMPACTFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE AREA CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE REGIONS. THESE EFFORTS MAINTAIN OUR ONGOING GOALS OF PARTNERING AND COLLABORATING, LINKING WHERE APPROPRIATE TO SERVE AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. "LINKED IN FRIENDSHIP, CONNECTED IN SERVICE"NORMALLY THIS CONFERENCE IS HELD IN-PERSON BUT THE 2021 CONFERENCE WAS CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY FOR MEMBERS AND DELEGATES. A SELECT GROUP OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, CONSISTING OF ELECTED OFFICERS, APPOINTED OFFICERS AND APPOINTED COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS DID ASSEMBLE IN ATLANTA AT A STUDIO TO CENTRALLY BROADCAST THE CONFERENCE TO ATTENDEES. THE DATES OF THE 2021 CONFERENCE WERE JUNE 11-12, 2021. REGISTRATION WAS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS STARTING IN APRIL THROUGH MAY 2021 AT A COST OF $250 FOR REGULAR REGISTRATION. CHAPTERS AND SPONSORS WERE ALSO ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AT VARYING LEVELS THROUGH SOUVENIR JOURNAL ADS, SPONSORSHIPS, VENDOR BOOTHS, ETC. ADDITIONAL REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDED SOUVENIR "1946 BAGS" WHICH WERE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. ATTENDEES HAD ADD-ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRIDAY EVENING ACTIVITIES ON "GIRLS NIGHT," SOME AT A MINOR AN ADDITIONAL COST. OTHER TYPICAL ACTIVITIES WERE INCLUDED FOR THE CONFERENCE SUCH AS ENTERTAINMENT AND EXTERNAL SPEAKERS. THE 2021 CONFERENCE HAD RECORD REGISTRATION OF OVER 2,500.