President's Message

Dear NREDA Members,

As the landscape of rural America begins its seasonal shift, I am reminded of the vital role each of you plays in ensuring that our communities don’t just survive, they thrive. Just as a successful harvest depends on the spring preparation of the soil, the strength of NREDA depends on the active engagement of you - our members!

I want to personally invite you to take your membership to the next level by joining an NREDA committee. While our association provides incredible networking and educational resources, the "magic" of NREDA happens behind the scenes in our committees. When you join a committee, you aren’t just volunteering your time; you are gaining a seat at the table to shape the future of our work. Whether you want to sharpen your leadership skills, expand your professional network, or directly influence the advocacy work we do in Washington, there is a place for you. Consider:

• Annual Conference Planning: Help us organize and build the program for our flagship event as a Conference Committee member. Join the Sponsorship Committee, critical in helping recruit like-minded sponsors to help support the costs of the annual conference. Consider the Awards Committee, choosing winners for the Leadership Award and the Organizational Excellence Award!
• Rural Issues: Monitor federal legislation that may have an impact on rural economic development, provide talking points for our members, and work with our partners to directly share our members’ stories and concerns with legislators.
• Publications & Marketing: Help us tell the NREDA story and share best practices through news briefs, social media, podcasts and more.
• Membership: Ensure that we continue to provide useful member benefits while growing our community of rural economic development professionals.
• Professional Development: Shape the webinars and regional seminars that keep our members at the cutting edge.

Speaking of professional development, I am thrilled to plug our upcoming Regional Workshop this June in Marysville, Ohio. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers in a smaller, more focused setting to tackle the unique challenges facing our regions today. More details are included below!

NREDA is only as strong as the voices within it. I hope you’ll consider lending yours to one of our committees this year. Let’s grow together.

Stay Rural!
Karla