- Home
- News
VAFRE E-news, August 2026 |
Thank you to our Newsletter Sponsor!
____________ Link Up with VAFRE on LINKEDINVAFRE has a Company page on LinkedIn: check it out to see what's happening with VAFRE. Also, members can join our LinkedIn group page and post items of interest to other members. ____________
VAFRE is proud to be a participating organization with CFRE International. Members receive a 20% discount on certification and recertification. Want to learn more about CFRE? Contact one of VAFRE’s CFRE Ambassadors with any questions you may have about the designation and the exam: ____________ Do You Need CFRE Credit? Check out the recordings of our recent programs on the Members Only page of the website. Login now to view the virtual versions of our programs. It's all there for VAFRE members to take advantage of. ____________
| Welcome New (& Returning) Members!
Log in to the Member Directory to access contact information for these and all members. ____________ Not a VAFRE Member?Quarterly payment options and ____________ Get Your VAFRE 2026-2027 Season Pass NOW!A Season Pass covers either in-person or virtual registration costs for all regular meetings from September 2026 through June 2027. This includes monthly luncheons and the annual Awards reception. The new Season Pass allows members the convenience of one annual payment for planned VAFRE events at a discounted rate:
Click here for complete details and to secure your Season Pass now. ____________ Submit Your Proposal!The program committee is currently pulling together an exciting list of topics for our monthly lunch programs. These in-person sessions are held in Richmond on Tuesdays, and do include a hybrid option. Submissions are open to the public, regardless of membership status, and will be accepted on a rolling basis. If you are interested in suggesting a topic, a speaker, or in helping to plan a program for the 2026-27 season, click here to learn more and submit your proposal today. ____________ 2026-2027 VAFRE ProgramsWe look forward to returning to the Virginia War Memorial for our 2026-2027 program year. This year, most of the programs will be on the second Tuesday of the month. Save the date for all of our programs:
*The May Awards program and July Brown Bag lunch locations will be announced. ____________ |
I’m honored to continue serving as president for another year with the opportunity to keep VAFRE an engaged community, strengthened by generous individuals and organizations grounded in equitable and responsible philanthropy. VAFRE continues to be a place where we can learn from each other, support one another, and grow together. As we look ahead, we want to make sure VAFRE continues to reflect what you—our members—need and value. The Board is excited to dive into your feedback from this year’s member survey. If you missed it, or have more thoughts to share, you can always reach out to our administrator, Mary Kidd, or me. And if you’re interested in getting more involved, we’re always looking for members to join our committees. I look forward to another year of shared impact. As our 2026 Nina Abady Honoree, Mary-Beth Johnson, said: "Come for the content; stay for the community." We hope to see you at a future luncheon or social! Nikkia Nikkia Johnson, ___________________________________ Who Are You Talking To? Practical Tips for Building a Better Audience Research PracticeOur Program - VAFRE and the Richmond Chapter of AMA are pleased to share this luncheon program with our members on Tuesday, September 15, at the Virginia War Memorial. Space is limited, so please register early. The best brands have a clear audience. Knowing exactly who you’re talking to and what drives them makes everything else easier—the strategy sharpens, your messaging lands, and the marketing drives the business. Learn the fundamentals of audience research, from quick surveys to informative discussion groups and beyond. We'll cover how to ask the right questions, pick the right research method for your goals, and how to use that data to better understand your audience and boost your impact. (NOTE: This program is pending approval for CFRE credit.) Our Presenter - Noel van Aartrijk has a past life in consumer research, where she designed and fielded custom audience research for known brands, including GEICO, Benjamin Moore, Kraft Heinz, and 3M. In 2020, she joined Arts & Letters Creative Co. in Richmond, Virginia. There, Noel has led strategy on brands, including Google Pay, DICK'S Sporting Goods, and NBC Universal. She has been an adjunct professor for the VCU School of Communication since 2017, and more recently for the VCU Brandcenter (her alma mater). Our Schedule - September 15 Register for this joint VAFRE and Richmond AMA program today. ___________________________________ Professional Partnership Program Still OpenDEFINITION: Part-ner: one that shares The Professional Partnership Program (P3), now entering its fourteenth year, offers VAFRE members the opportunity for small groups (the Partners) to meet a minimum of four times with two highly experienced facilitators (the Leaders) between October 2026 and June 2027. The Professional Partnership Program will encourage discussion and comments on job-related concerns of greatest interest to each group as identified by the participant applications. Issues and topics for each session will be solicited in advance and then facilitated by the Leaders. Confirmed P3 Team Leaders for 2026-2027:
REGISTRATIONS and ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION should be received by the end of day on September 4. The Kick-off meeting for the groups is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, at St. Joseph’s Villa. All P3 participants as well as P3 alumni are invited to attend. Many thanks to our P3 Sponsor -
___________________________________
|
.png)
