Board Updates

PMI NH Chapter Event Rates Memo

January 24, 2024

Dear PMI New Hampshire Chapter Members, 

We hope this message finds you well and that your 2024 is off to a great start. Your continued membership and support are invaluable to us, and as we strive to enhance the value the chapter provides to its members, we are reaching out to communicate recent and upcoming chapter-related event pricing adjustments.

As stewards of your trust and commitment, the Board of Directors recognizes its fiduciary responsibility to effectively manage chapter funds, including member dues, in a sustainable manner. Over the last several years, the chapter has experienced an increase in costs associated with planning and hosting events, including paid professional speaker fees, largely due to inflationary pressures that other organizations have also experienced. To date, the chapter has tried to absorb these increases, using reserve funds to cover the gap between event receipts and actual event-related expenses; however, the chapter cannot indefinitely subsidize these events while ensuring its long-term financial viability and continuing to provide high-quality, value-added events to you, our most esteemed members. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has decided to adjust event-related fees to better reflect the actual costs associated with organizing and hosting different types of events.

Our commitment to delivering exceptional value is deeply rooted in the diversity of events we offer. These events cater to various aspects of your professional development and networking needs. The adjustment in pricing is a proactive measure to ensure the continued excellence of these events while addressing the financial challenges we have identified, allowing us to continue providing and further enhance the quality of events for your benefit. Future events will be explicitly categorized as one of the following four types:

• Professional Development Events are shorter presentations such as webinars and may be conducted virtually or in person. These events focus on providing you with insights into the latest industry trends, best practices, and emerging tools. By increasing attendance prices, we aim to secure high-caliber speakers who can deliver timely, valuable content to further enrich your professional skills.
  
  Virtual events have traditionally been free, and the speakers have not charged the chapter for their presentations. However, high-caliber speakers all charge a fee. We anticipate that we will have to charge between $25 and $50 per attendee depending on the speaker for these future events.
  
  Members will typically receive PDUs for professional development events unless otherwise noted. 

•  Education Events are longer events such as workshops and study groups and may be conducted virtually or in person. Our workshops and study groups are designed to offer hands-on learning experiences and in-depth knowledge sharing. The adjustment in attendance prices will contribute to the enhancement of these educational opportunities, ensuring they remain informative and impactful.
  
  Prices for education events will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the event and cost of educational materials, if any.
  
  Members will typically receive PDUs for education events unless otherwise noted. 

• Chapter Meetings* are a review of chapter business and are expected to be held on an annual basis moving forward. Chapter meetings will typically be conducted in person.
  
  Chapter meetings are a platform for reviewing our annual business, sharing key updates, and fostering a sense of community. The increased prices will support the logistics and planning required to make these meetings informative and engaging.
  
  Members will not typically receive PDUs for chapter meetings, unless paired with a PDU-earning activity. 

•  Social/Networking Events* such as the annual holiday celebration and summer baseball game. Social/Networking events will typically be conducted in person. These events provide a relaxed environment for networking and building connections within the project management community. The adjustments in prices will help us organize memorable and valuable networking experiences for our members.
  
  Members will not receive PDUs for social/networking events, unless paired with a PDU-earning activity.  

 *Both Chapter Meetings and Social/Networking Events are in person events and have included the provision of food in the past as part of the event. The restaurants and venues have been increasing prices, and we must contract in advance for a projected number of attendees. As a chapter, we have been taking a financial loss on these events due to the increased costs and lower attendance than projected. To be clear, our goal is not to make money on the events, but to get closer to breaking even. We anticipate that the price increases from the current rate of $25 per member and range from $30 to $50 per member depending on the nature of the event. 

We understand that these pricing adjustments may raise questions, especially as we are all experiencing a similar increase in costs in other areas of our personal and professional lives, and we encourage you to reach out to us at [email protected] with any concerns or inquiries. Please be assured that, with every decision, your Board of Directors always asks, “How does this improve or create new value for our members?” Your ongoing support is necessary for the chapter’s continued viability, and we are committed to utilizing the additional funds responsibly to elevate your experience within the PMI New Hampshire Chapter. 

Thank you for your understanding and continued participation.

Sincerely, 

Board of Directors

PMI New Hampshire Chapter