December 2007 President's Message
Patricia A. Moran, CFRE
 Dear Colleagues,
All fundraisers are very busy at this very important time of year as we endeavor to secure major and annual gifts for our nonprofit organizations. The Greater New York Chapter has more than 900 members who represent education, social service, health care, the arts and many other valuable charitable programs in New York.
This month, I complete my term as the President of the Greater New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. It has been a very enjoyable, interesting, and informative twenty-four months leading one of the largest chapters in our association and the founding chapter of AFP.
I have had the opportunity to work with some of the finest fundraisers and managers both at our chapter level and at the international level working with colleagues from the U.S., the Canadian provinces, and many new chapter leaders in Asia and South America.
The Greater New York Chapter has a unique mission and philosophy -- to serve not only AFP members but all fundraisers in our area. Though our educational programs, which are held at least weekly, fundraisers can learn about the latest changes in our ethics code, hear about successful capital campaigns, take home best practices for major gifts programs, and network with the best practitioners in field.
As I step down as President of the Greater New York Chapter of AFP, I want to ask all fundraisers to do three things:
1. Join the Association of Fundraising Professionals and sign the code of ethics. AFP is the only organization with a formal code of ethics.
2. Volunteer for the chapter and the international organization—your volunteer service will help our organization and provide you with a rewarding network of peers.
3. Seek your CFRE (certified fundraising executive) credentials. CFRE is the professional credential for a career in fundraising. By joining the ranks of CFREs, you are exhibiting your commitment to our profession and helping to enhance our professional image.
My volunteer commitment to AFP does not end with my term as president. For the next two years, I will serve as the chair of the nomination committee to recruit new board members and volunteers for our chapter. I look forward to meeting new AFP members in 2008 who are interested in volunteering at in a leadership role and serving the fundraising profession.
To close, I wish to thank two special people who have contributed countless volunteer hours to the GNY AFP Chapter. I would like to recognize and thank Sheila Stanford, President, The Stanford Group, Inc., for her leadership to our chapter. Sheila called me eight years ago and asked me to help with an AFP workshop and we have been working together ever since my first volunteer effort. I learned a great deal about leadership, management, and friendship working with Sheila during her term as President. I also want to thank John Hicks, President and C.E.O. of J.C. Geever, Inc., for his support during my term as President. I am pleased to hand the presidential gavel to John at the end of the year. John will be an outstanding President for the Founding Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. 
Patricia A. Moran, CFRE
Fordham University
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