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Thank You To The
2023 Convention Committee! We had a fantastic convention and hope to see even more of our amazing members in Richmond, VA in 2024! |
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With a strong theme of growth, our 90th Annual Torch Convention opened with 87 Torch members and their guests joined together in Baltimore, Maryland. Representing 29 of our 51 clubs, this was a strong showing at Convention, with nearly half of attendees indicating that this was their first Convention. This Convention blended long tradition, new approaches, and several announcements:
Lynn Bernard (Former Region 3 Director and past club officer roles) received the Gold award recognizing her indefatigable efforts for Torch, for her clubs individually and through regional conventions, as well as being a driving force behind this Baltimore Convention. Her other efforts are too numerous to mention. Dwight Williams (Region 6 Director and past club officer roles) received the Gold award for his work with struggling and fallen-away clubs in his region as well as the nearly two years he spent guiding the drafting of the restated bylaws, and then editing, explaining, and shepherding those through to their final approval last fall. Both Lynn and Dwight are very deserving of this honor. Various workshop and business sessions introduced a new Membership Growth & Expansion Resource Guide & Tool Kit, a moderated discussion format concept for Torch presentations, a three-year strategic plan for the organization, and the launch of a fundraising campaign for growth – the Centennial Club. In between, attendees heard presentations on Baltimore history as well as up-to-the minute international topics, took well-attended tours that gave us glimpses of Baltimore’s rich history and culture, shared an entertaining film, and enjoyed the amenities and cuisine of the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel. At the business meeting, a vote of 41-0 approved the 2023-2024 club year budget reflecting a $65 dues level ($32.50 for household). The budget allocates significant resources to new club growth and existing club member support. Click here to review the full presentation. To help raise additional funds for club & member growth, the Board has worked with the Torch Foundation to kick off the Centennial Club – a fundraising campaign which had raised over $15,500 in pledges and contributions before the Convention ended! It was a Convention that reflected a new passion to grow the organization – not just to be big, but to share the experience of Torch with a larger audience. |
Click here to view the survey results from this
year's convention. 
Awards & Recognitions
Gold Award Winners
Lynn Bernard Richmond, VA Former Region 3 District Leader & 2023 Convention Committee Member Dwight Williams Saginaw Valley, MI Region 6 District Leader & Bylaw Committee Chair Paxton Winner P. Scott Stanfield Lincoln, NE "Backlash Against Cultural Appropriation" |
Don’t Miss Next Year!
Join Us in Richmond, VA to celebrate the IATC Centennial June 20-23, 2024.
Join Us in Richmond, VA to celebrate the IATC Centennial June 20-23, 2024.