July 1 marked the beginning of a new ASPE year.
For many organizations, a new year brings visions of cooler weather, fresh starts, and renewed routines. For us, however, the beginning of the ASPE year arrives right in the middle of summer. Many of us are balancing family vacations, summer activities, demanding work schedules, and the occasional “summertime blues” that come from trying to fit everything into a season that always seems to pass too quickly.
Yet despite the heat and the busy schedules, this is one of the most important times of the year for our Society. As of June 30, our Chapters completed another important milestone with the submission of their Annual Reports. They also finalized their Treasurer’s Reports this month. These reports are more than administrative requirements—they provide an opportunity to reflect on accomplishments, measure progress, and identify opportunities for improvement. Most importantly, they allow us to ask a simple but powerful question: What comes next?
As Chapter leaders begin planning for the 2026–2027 ASPE year, I encourage every Chapter to ask itself:
- What will we accomplish this year?
- What programs will we develop?
- What members will we engage?
- How will we strengthen our Chapter?
- How will we help our members grow professionally and personally?
Those same questions apply to each of us as individuals. As we move through the second half of 2026, I encourage you to ask yourself:
- What will I accomplish this year?
- What goals remain unfinished?
- What skills do I want to develop?
- What relationships should I strengthen?
- What changes do I need to make to become the person and professional I aspire to be?
Success rarely happens by accident. It requires intentional decisions, consistent effort, and the willingness to make progress one step at a time. Throughout this series of articles, I have often spoken about growth, leadership, gratitude, opportunity, and finding your voice. Each of those themes begins with a decision to move forward.
The same is true for ASPE. As a Society, we continue to build on a strong foundation. We continue to grow our membership, strengthen our educational offerings, improve our processes, and develop future leaders. We continue to challenge ourselves to look honestly at who we are today while preparing for who we want to become tomorrow.
The work of our committees, working groups, Chapters, and volunteers remains critical to that effort. Whether through membership initiatives, long-range planning, leadership development, educational programs, or special projects, our members continue to invest in the future of this organization.
Looking ahead, our focus increasingly turns toward the 2026 ASPE Convention & Expo in Oklahoma City. October will represent an important milestone in the history of our Society. Delegates from across ASPE will gather to discuss the future direction of our organization, consider proposed Bylaws changes, and elect the leaders who will help guide ASPE through its next chapter.
Earlier this year, our chapters selected the leaders who will serve them during the coming year. In October, the Society will undertake that same responsibility. This process is one of the greatest strengths of ASPE. It reflects our commitment to member-driven leadership and ensures that the future of our Society remains in the hands of engaged volunteers who care deeply about our mission.
I believe our Society is in a strong position today. We continue to enjoy healthy membership levels, financial stability, growing educational opportunities, strong industry partnerships, and a culture of collaboration that makes ASPE unique. Most importantly, we continue to develop leaders at every level of the organization—from Chapter committees to regional leadership to the Society Board of Directors.
As I look across the membership, I see a Society that continues to evolve. Our profession is changing. Our membership is changing. The needs of future generations will be different from those of the generations before them. That evolution is not something to fear—it is something to embrace. The challenge before us is to preserve the values, traditions, and commitment to excellence that built ASPE, while remaining open to new ideas, new perspectives, and new opportunities.
I encourage you to enjoy the remainder of your summer, spend time with your family, continue investing in yourself, and begin thinking about what success will look like for you, your Chapter, and our Society in the year ahead. The future of ASPE is not something that happens to us. It is something we create together. Thank you for your continued dedication to ASPE and our profession.
As always, I am enclosing Volume 13 of the ASPE Education crossword puzzle. Luther Thevenin is one of our many talented contributors to the ASPE education committee, and he has put together some great puzzles for our ASPE community. So, take some time and complete the crossword puzzle. The answers will be posted in our next article.
