Hi there Chicago!

My name is Kate Harry Shipham and I have the privilege of leading the Chicago Local Steering Committee (LSC) on behalf of the Midwest Region.

I want to firstly acknowledge that for many of you, you are in a day-by-day survival mode for both your working life and your personal life. I see that and our LSC sees that. 2022 for the legal marketing industry is still testing us. We are still in the thick of it. Again. The holiday season for 2021 should have been a time to enjoy a more normal way of life. Instead, it was dominated by Omicron and the shocking news that vaccines and boosters may not be enough. Granted, vaccines and boosters for most mean a milder Covid experience, however, I hear weekly the alarming effect it is having on young and healthy people, and our legal marketers here in Chicago. I know many of you have battled it and many still are continuing to battle it.

My message to you is this: hang in there. This will get easier. With the knowledge that science accumulates daily on this vicious virus, times will get better. We will come out of this survival mode, and we will find new ways of coping and living. Importantly, reach out to me or the wonderful leaders in our Chicago LSC and let us know what you need.

Here are 5 things I want to share with you as we move forward in Q1:

• In-person versus virtual. We are closely watching where the numbers are trending in Chicago. We made the tricky decision to not hold an in-person event over the holidays. This got even tricker as we saw our other LMA regions enjoy in-person events. Omicron made having something in person in Chicago just too risky as December progressed and handed us bad news after bad news. I know that many, and perhaps all of you, find the in-person networking and educational sessions invaluable in your decision to be a member of LMA in the Midwest. Know that this sentiment is exactly how I feel, too. I will continue to evaluate when it is a safe and comfortable time to return to in-person. On my current read, we will remain fully virtual for Q1. I am hopeful I have a different message to share with you in Q2.
• Regional Conference. At this moment in time, I can share that the Midwest leaders are planning an in-person conference for our region in the summer. Chicago has proven to be a good location for the majority, and so we are hopeful to hold a two day in-person conference in Chicago in mid-June. This will be a special and much-needed conference for us all if things continue to move in the right direction.
• Mental Health. I love that this phrase is now commonplace. I love that Laura Toledo, our Midwest President in 2021, normalized this conversation and gave us permission and acceptance to feel comfortable addressing this issue. Every day I hear from professionals in my network on how they are adapting yet again in 2022 and how their mental health is holding up as a result. I want to continue in Laura’s inspirational footsteps and keep this conversation going, both loud and clear. Nothing is more important that our physical and mental health. Nothing.
• We are big, and we are humble. Chicago is the biggest city in the Midwest family. I am embracing that responsibility and that burden. The loudest person in the room is not always right, and I like to listen more than I speak. Chicago can both lead it’s smaller-sized peer cities where they seek it and, importantly, Chicago can continue to learn from them. I want Chicago to be a humble member of the Midwest family.

What’s next? Our LSC is hard at word crafting how we can give you a membership experience in 2022 that ticks most of your boxes. We are taking into account everything we have leaned and know and will be rolling this out shortly. Please watch, stay tuned, and let us know if you have an idea you want us to add into the mix.

Stay warm, stay safe, and be kind to one another.

Warmly,

Kate Harry Shipham

Chicago LSC, Midwest, 2022