Letter from the President: Networking for the Future

Dear AFP Members:

When you look at the challenges ahead, do you see a glass half empty or half full? This image occurred to us as we began talking to AFP members about the changes they see on the horizon for cash management.

Many of the ideas expressed in our cover story we heard at the AFP Annual Conference in San Francisco, where it was a pleasure to see so many of you. Over 4,000 attended the event, a testament to the importance you place in education and networking with colleagues, especially during economic times like these.

Building on that momentum, I am pleased to announce our inaugural AFP Treasury Management Forum in April. Developed by your treasury management peers, the Forum will feature many interactive roundtable discussions and networking opportunities.

That event will be followed by the AFP Global Corporate Treasurer's Forum in May, which will focus on the question "How are you operating in the new 'normal' business environment?"

NEW IN CANADA
AFP will then launch the AFP of Canada Treasury Management Forum in June, expanding upon the AFP of Canada Treasurers Forum to include content for both executive and professional level participants in one convenient setting. Within the forum, the SCT Institute will specifically serve the executive level. See the letter to finance professionals in Canada: www.afponline.ca/pub/forums/ctmf/letter.html

As AFP expands the content and networking events that serve treasurers and CFOs, I am pleased to announce that we have engaged international treasury consultant Nilly Essaides to develop new content for senior-level executives. Nilly will facilitate selected roundtable meetings for the Corporate Treasurers Council and Society of Canadian Treasurers, and she will lead the development of educational content for AFP's expanded Canadian Treasurers Forum, which will take place in Toronto in June.

Her name may be familiar to you. Essaides served previously with the NeuGroup, responsible for the content for a community of peer groups. Elizabeth Johns has invited her to write a monthly column for you, specifically for treasurers. Stay tuned for our new content to debut in the front of AFP Exchange magazine!

Sincerely,

 -Jim Kaitz