President's Message — Nikki Gabriel, LMFT

Can We Do More and Be Better?

Summer has arrived, and with it the realization that my term as president for the chapter has only six months more to go! It has been a terrific year so far, but not without its challenges. As a second time-chapter president and new mom, I have had to learn how to be more flexible, delegate, accept help, and acknowledge limitations in myself and others. I am proud of how things have gone so far. Is everything at its best for our chapter? I would have to say yes and no. Is it possible we can do more and be better? Yes. Have we been outstanding given the many challenges? Also, yes.

One of my favorite successes this year has been asking board members to step up and step in as meeting host. It has been amazing and everyone that has volunteered to do this has done a fabulous job. I think it has also enhanced the online meeting experience, as we are working as a team of three at each meeting, and better able to manage all the requirements of fully supporting the online meeting experience. Of course now after two years, and having finally figured all this out online, we must prepare to pivot and look at what the future holds for chapter meetings. I think we all know that we need in-person networking. We also still need to accommodate those most comfortable or most able to attend meetings online. How do we do this? Well, we are working on finding the answer. If you are interested in being a part of this transition, please contact me to find out how you can help out.

It is not possible to say enough about how enjoyable it is to serve on the board and work with and get to know each of the chapter volunteers and leaders that make our chapter function in the robust and dynamic way that it does. Yes, the board meetings are long sometimes, but we also tackle important topics related to the chapter and our profession, and have a little fun along the way. We are currently recruiting chapter members for the 2023 Board of Directors. The term is for one year, and it is a great way to get to know your fellow chapter members and gain some insight into the workings of the chapter and learn about the profession. If you are even a little bit interested please consider contacting me or another board member to discuss. Any one of the board members will be happy to let you know why they joined, what they are getting out of it, and answer any questions about the time commitment involved.

Finally, in May, we took our first step toward being back in-person with a chapter social networking event. It took place outdoors at a member's home and we had 11 chapter members get together. It was an intimate gathering of chapter members, and a chance to get to know one another a little better. If you missed it, there is another event in August, the New Member Lunch, which is open to both new and longstanding chapter members. The event is free and will be held on Sunday, August 14 with more details to come. This is an opportunity to show what the chapter has to offer, so bring a friend that is not yet a member!

I look forward to the second half of 2022! I think there are big things in store for our chapter. If you have any questions about the chapter, the Board of Directors, volunteering, or any other related issue please send me an email at sfvcamtpre@gmail.com, as I will be happy to discuss with you further. Thank you!

Nikki Gabriel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist taking a short break from her practice to take on the role of new Mom. She assists teens and adults in learning to manage anger, anxiety, depression, and confidence issues by utilizing interventions from an eclectic background. She enjoys helping people discover new ways to solve problems, develop healthier behavior patterns, and improve communication skills. Nikki can be reached at 818-473-0088 or nikkigabrielmft@gmail.com.