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Most coaches will recognize this graphic. We often use this concept with our clients as they search for new meaning in their lives and new pathways to explore. What is life without purpose? Purpose helps us become a better version of ourselves- both personally and professionally. It drives our behaviors, our relationships, our quests for joy and our desire to make a positive mark on the world.

At ICF Minnesota, one of our four values is “Service.” Service - We humbly serve our coaches, clients, and community with purpose.

Over the last week or so, I have been contemplating how ICF Minnesota is fulfilling this value. How are we serving our coaches, our clients, and our community?

Serving is an act of helpful activity. The members of our board are continually serving and living out their purpose (although no one is getting paid😊) Let me share some of the accomplishments this group of volunteers have contributed to our coaching community.

• Our Membership Committee is actively recruiting new members and now provides quarterly welcome calls to orientate new members to our chapter. These sessions are very popular and we have received great feedback so far. In the last 12 months, we have gained 55 new members!

• Our Professional Development Committee offered 15 professional development programs that represented an opportunity to gain 14 Continuing Education Units for credentialing purposes. The introduction of a new approach, a coaching workshop and demo by Joanne Blackerby, a MCC, proved particularly popular.

• Our Outreach Committee continued hosting and facilitating quarterly Mastermind meetings where the Minnesota business community has an opportunity to share insights on coaching in organizations- discussions on current business trends, coaching best practices, new coaching initiatives and more. We also engaged with Giving WoMN to provide pro bono coaching to their current grantees.

• Our Communications Committee does a great job of keeping our members informed via our monthly Meet the Coach features, posts on LinkedIn and Facebook, along with videos on our You Tube channel.

• Our DEIJB Committee encouraged us to incorporate DEIJB discussions into our monthly board meetings. This provides an opportunity for us as a board to focus our attention and intentions around the meaning of these initiatives, how they affect our work on the board and how we continually tie our DEIJB efforts to our strategic priorities and values.

Due to a strong financial planning and budgeting process, we have the largest reserve in our Chapter’s history.

We have board succession plans in place with a full Executive Team and at least one Director on the board for every committee.

With these significant accomplishments in mind, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the ICF Minnesota Board and for our very talented administrative assistant Amy. I am honored to work alongside the Executive Team and the entire ICF Minnesota Board. This group is fulfilling many aspects of their purpose in serving the members of our Minnesota coaching community. Our board, our members, all the participants in our events, and our featured speakers in our Professional Development series all contribute to our ability to make a positive mark on the world!

I hope you all enjoy our upcoming beautiful fall season!

Karen Failes-Coad

ICF Minnesota President

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