Doll News Fall 2017 - 6

President's Message

In Unity There Is Strength

hank you for the honor you have given me to serve as president of
our wonderful organization. You have placed your trust in me and I
will do my best to promote the UFDC mission and continue to build
a strong and ﬁnancially sound organization.
UFDC has been an integral part of my life for the past 38 years. Doll
collecting is so much more than a hobby for many of us. For some it is the
special bond of friendships made with like-minded people while for others it is the opportunity to
learn and share a unique interest.
UFDC is an inclusive organization. Our mission is to promote the hobby of doll collecting-all
kinds of dolls from antique to vintage to modern. Our interests may vary from that of a serious
collector to that of a doll maker to someone who just enjoys dolls; but we all share the common bond
of a love for dolls.
It is my good fortune to be a member of our founder Mary Lewis' club. As I reﬂect on those
early days in 1937, with the world on the brink of a great war, I think how special it was that eight
determined ladies planted the seeds for UFDC. How proud Mary Lewis would be to see how UFDC
has grown and how proud we all should be for keeping this dream alive.
The goal of UFDC is to be the foremost in research, education, conservation, and appreciation
of dolls. Working for UFDC is a team effort. I am truly fortunate and grateful to have an Executive
Committee and Board of Directors who are enthusiastic and diligent members who share this goal.
UFDC is an organization of dedicated volunteers whose loyalty and devotion always amazes me. I
am conﬁdent that I, with my fellow ofﬁcers, regional directors, committee members, and staff will
continue to work effectively to meet the goals and needs of UFDC and its members.
Our challenge is to ﬁnd new ways to maintain our present membership while developing strategies
to encourage new supporters. We are developing and implementing action plans that are feasible and
obtainable. We will explore new ways to encourage networking, sharing of ideas, communicating and
collaborating, improving professional and educational development-all toward the goal of advancing
our hobby and promoting the study as well as appreciation of dolls.
We will use technology in better and more innovative ways. Our new website will be activated this
fall, as well as a museum app that will allow our members to tour the museum from the comfort of
their homes. We will touch MORE of our members with MORE services, not less.
While we bring the members of our organization closer together, we need to also look at ways in
which we can work together with other organizations. This includes not only better communications,
but actually using our collective power to affect change.
As we strive to operate more efﬁciently and reduce costs, there will be changes in how we operate.
UFDC will now have professionals working our website and social media. This will allow us to better
focus our limited resources on other areas of opportunity.
This is an exciting time for UFDC. Not just for me, as your new president, but for all of us, the
opportunities are endless.
Thank you again for this opportunity to serve as your president. I appreciate your faith and
promise I will do all I can to make the next two years successful.
Together we can make
anything happen.

Loretta
DOLL NEWS * UFDC.ORG

http://www.UFDC.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Fall 2017