Dear ARPA members,
Thank you all for your continued support of ARPA, especially in a time of change and transition.
2020 was an extraordinary year with COVID-19 disrupting life for all of us. 2020 was the first time in ARPA’s history that our annual conference was cancelled due to travel and gathering restrictions. The ARPA Awards went ahead digitally, without the fanfare of a special dinner or applause.
Despite the difficulties, we have seen some things return to normal. Our Auckland-based group has continued to meet regularly in the midst of changing restrictions. And others have stepped up to connect with members around them and encourage one another.
I’m grateful for the work of the executive team: Treasurer, Allan Sauer OAM, who has continued in this role to help maintain continuity and willingly share his experience and ARPA knowledge; Secretary and Australian Vice-President, Mark Brolly, who has served in his role while enduring significant restrictions in Melbourne; and our new Executive Officer, Amanda Jusaitis, whose first term as EO has been unlike any other! I would also like to acknowledge our newest team member, Michelle McDonald, editor of anglican focus, who replaces Peter March as Communications Officer. Peter has moved on to a new role with the Australian Army—thank you Peter for your time on our team and welcome Michelle.
We recognise that living in a world with COVID-19 presents all kinds of uncomfortable realities for you, our members. These have included budget cuts, working restrictions, and significant pressures on home and family life.
It also presents ARPA with challenges: How do we operate as a trans-Tasman group without highly accessible and risk-free travel? We also face the challenge of dwindling membership and engagement from members.
Over the next year we are hoping to provide you with opportunities to upskill, connect and share—in person where we can and via digital platforms where we can’t meet face-to-face. We’re going to look at ways to encourage and foster new and existing members. We’re going to need to be flexible, creative, and open to change.
Two things come up every time we ask what our members value about ARPA: the connections made with other communicators, and the peer recognition of the ARPA Awards. As an executive team we believe ARPA is something special and worth investing in. We hope you do too.
We are a group of writers and editors who have the privilege of clearly communicating the best news the world has ever heard. To this end, I pray that God would continue to grant us grace and peace as we seek to speak the truth, promote justice, and share the ways He is at work in our communities.
Sophia Sinclair