Welcome to our first eNews of 2012. I hope everyone had a great seasonal break and that you managed to spend special time with friends and family. I always feel the beginning of a new year is an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to review the past year’s accomplishments and redouble my efforts to complete those things I neglected.

Something new we’re introducing to our GDC members this year is our automated payment option allowing members to pay their yearly dues in 12 equal monthly installments. We’re excited about this new payment option because it’s something you’ve been asking for for quite some time. It wasn’t easy, and a lot of the detailed programming work was done on and around the holidays over the last few weeks.

During the time we were adding this feature, we were also upgrading the Smallbox CMS. Some of you may have had some difficulties logging in or making payments or purchases. We’re over that hump now and you shouldn’t experience any more problems. We apologize if anyone was inconvenienced.

I would like to extend a personal thank-you and high-five to all of our national committees, and especially to the team at Smallbox who provide our CMS and web services for gdc.net. We’re extremely grateful for all they do for the GDC. If any of you need a CMS for your client work, or your own website, do yourself a favour and check out the products and services at Smallbox.

I’d also like to extend a warm farewell to Steve Fisher CGD who recently tendered his resignation from our National Executive and Web Committee. An expert in his field, Steve has been a key player for the GDC on all things web for the last few years. Having recently relocated to Vancouver, Steve has had to make some sacrifices and we will miss his contributions immensely. With Steve’s departure comes opportunity and Scott Gillam CGD of the Manitoba Chapter recognized that immediately. I hope everyone will join me in welcoming Scott to our executive team and our Web Committee. Scott has over 12 years experience working on digital interactive projects for clients including EQ3, Palliser, Manitoba Hydro and Icograda, and is the Education Chair for the Manitoba Chapter.

At this time of year there is usually a lot more activity in our Chapters throughout the country as most are holding their Annual General Meetings. This is also an election year for most Chapters so they’re out recruiting candidates for executives and electing or re-electing new slates of executives to manage their Chapters for the next two years. The challenge of course, is to find the right volunteers who are motivated enough to step forward and who will make a valuable contribution. It isn’t hard work, but it’s important work that can be very rewarding and satisfying. An hour or two every week is all it takes to make a meaningful contribution to the graphic design community in your Chapter.

The National Certification Committee that we established late this past summer is humming along nicely. The committee expects to have their report prepared for our upcoming AGM at the end of April. The committee will be recommending changes and improvements to our certification process based on internal and external research. The committee has established two sub-committees—one looking at our internal processes and another looking at what other organizations are doing. We have a great team working on this and it will be interesting to learn their recommendations in the coming months.

Of particular interest to members is our upcoming 2012 Chapter Member Survey. The National Communications Committee has been working diligently on this and it’s now in its final stage of completion. The survey is in beta and being tested and tweaked before release. We’re looking for your opinions on a variety of issues and hope members will participate with the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I’d like to close by saying thanks to everyone for your continued support and participation in the GDC. I wish each and every one of you the very best that 2012 has to offer.

Jim Hudson, BDes, CGD
National President