LINCOLN PARK, CHICAGO — The Society is going international. Five new Officers will review applications for chapters beyond Lincoln Park.
The Society is accepting petitions for chapters beyond Lincoln Park. The Committee has appointed five Officers to review them.
Petitions had been piling up, and one or two cities made approaches the Committee describes as "flattering, though premature." At this year's Brunch, the Office of Global Expansion was established and portfolios were assigned over the second course.
The Officers, then.
Director, National Expansion (United States)
Margaret "Meg" Crowley-Vance has the domestic rollout — American cities, petitioning for charter, evaluated in order. She's the only one of the five whose portfolio sits where the title says it does, and the Committee is quietly relieved about it. So far she has chartered nobody. Citing standards. We've told her to keep going.
Director, Middle West Expansion (Europe)
Europe goes to Anneke van der Velde, of Amsterdam, under the title Director of Middle West Expansion. The appointment was recorded at the Brunch. Anneke has returned the signed acceptance and requested the European mailing list.
Anneke has asked for the chapter applications in advance of the next meeting. The Committee had expected a less immediate start.
Director, Asian Expansion
Seo-yeon "Sunny" Park, of Seoul, takes the Asian portfolio. She runs a skincare distribution company and has already asked the Committee to separate its travel recommendations from its chapter criteria.
Several Members have sent Sunny questions about skincare. Those inquiries will be answered separately.
Director, Australian Expansion
Fiona Ashby-Worthington, of Sydney, takes the Australian portfolio. The Committee was pleased to hear her suggestions for the first reception and has spent rather more time discussing the harbour view than the application process.
Director, New Zealand Expansion
And New Zealand — its own theater, entirely separate, every bit as vital. We say this firmly. Press us on why and we will struggle. But the position stands: New Zealand is not a wing of the Australian portfolio. It is its own portfolio, and we'll hear nothing more about it. Charlotte Pemberton-Reid takes it. Her family grows wine on the South Island, which reassures us enormously.
A Note on Coverage
Additional regional portfolios remain open. Members may submit proposals through the Member Portal.
The Committee has not yet assigned a Middle East portfolio. Sunny has requested a separate discussion of its scope.
One founding Member offered her holiday itinerary as a starting point for the remaining regions. Anneke asked whether any prospective chapters had actually contacted her. The itinerary has been filed with the travel material.
Looking Ahead
Highland Park, the Marina, and several other markets — all under evaluation. Gangnam, Double Bay, and Auckland are working their way through their respective offices. None of it will be quick. A standard, the Committee likes to say, is not improved by being rushed, and the Committee says it often.
Members in chapter-pending cities should sit tight. In the meantime, carry on as though the charter already came through. It tends to help.
— Issued by the Office of Global Expansion. The Committee has reviewed this announcement and found it entirely satisfactory.