TOCA Welcomes Newbies

By Debbie Clayton, Clayton Communications

For the first time in 2018, TOCA welcomed “Newbies” — or first-time attendees to the annual meeting — with a sponsored dinner the night before the meeting officially began.

An idea spawned by the TOCA Professional Development Committee, the dinner served two purposes:  introducing Newbies to each other and other members, and providing a venue for non-board members to get together.

Since the annual meeting starts early on Wednesday morning, most attendees arrive the day before it begins. Traditionally, board members meet on Tuesday afternoon and are treated to a dinner that night. But other members and newcomers were generally left on their own.

“We felt the dinner provided a much-needed ice-breaker to kick the meeting off,” says Dawn Rigby, Professional Development Committee member. “We held a happy hour the year before but it just didn’t seem enough. When Ewing Irrigation and Focal Point Communications stepped up to sponsor the dinner for Newbies, we went along with the concept! Non-board members who had previously attended TOCA were invited along at their own expense.”

For many years, each board member has chosen one or two Newbies to ‘mentor’ during the meeting. They answer questions, make introductions and show them the ropes. But their interactions don’t usually start until the meeting gets underway.

Having a special, sponsored dinner the night before the meeting began got the ball rolling even sooner. Everyone seemed to agree — a new tradition was born for welcoming TOCA Newbies!