Yep. We're here. This is my last newsletter.
But before we cry, let's take a look at what's been happening in LC Health these past 2 weeks.
For updates this week, I want to quickly go over what the campaign highlighted this week, before we move to a little summary of 16-17 Measures of success in LC Health.
CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS
In exciting news, we are about to break a record, with nearly 1000 approves by the end of the summer in 2017! Can we make that happen?
Let's also give a shout out to our top contributors last week:
For the complete updates and most recents news, check out the Hub's campaign section, which is updated every week: https://www.aiesecanhub.org/mission-impossible/
2016-17 MEASURES OF SUCCESS
With 16-17 coming to a close, let's take a look at how we've done in terms of our measures of success.
Productivity & contribution
In the 2015-16 year, we needed on average 3 members for each exchange we approved. As we end 2016-17, we now only need 1.3 member per exchange. We got very close to the 1:1 ratio we talked so much about this year, I am very proud!
IXP
We finished the year with 145 approved IXPs. With our 88 members who already were IXP, that puts us at 27.4% of our membership being IXP. Compared to the 15% in 2015-16, that's great news!
Team Standards
The implementation of team standards tracking was a big milestone in 2016-17, and definitely a step in the right direction. However, the data we've collected has shown a lot of stagnation:
This tells us that we collect data, but don't quite act on it yet. That is definitely something to improve in 17-18.
Financial Standard
In Period 2 of 2016, only one LC failed Standard 7, which was quite impressive. I remember my LCP days, when half the LCs failed finance (my LC included.. lol).
In 2017, we started the year a little rough, with 4 LCs failing the January submission, but it got down to one LC in February and March. Finally, no one failed in April (although some LCs passed conditionally, so be careful)! It's looking pretty good for Period 1 of 2017, I say!
We also started the year with 12 LCs in debt, and are now down to 10. Let's clear that debt!
LCPs:
Coaching Survey:
The moment to assign the coaches for the second half of 2017 is here! Please fill out this survey before June 23rd @4PM EST! (If you're seeing this after 4PM, do it RIGHT NOW!)
Revised Year Plans:
The deadline to submit your revised year plan was on the 21st of June. If you wanted to submit a year plan but haven't done so yet, let Gill know ASAP! If not, we will consider your previous year plan as still accurate.
TALENT MANAGEMENT:
Team Standards:
The next Team Standards survey will be due on July 2nd @11PM EST! The survey will be released next week, a few days before the deadline. Make sure all of your LC's team leaders are on the lookout for it!
CX Challenge:
The challenge closes on June 30th. Make sure your LC submits everything before 11PM EST on that date! For details on the tasks and submissions, refer to this guide.
AIESEC in Canada Hub:
If you have not familiarized your membership with the hub, you should start now! News are now being posted there, and newsletters will soon follow. The B2C and iGT resources are almost finalized, and TM and Finance will be there very soon. Make sure you and your LC use it!
FINANCE:
May Submissions:
The deadline is June 30th, but if you wish to get feedback on your submission prior, you must submit by June 23rd @11:59PM EST.
SoA Debt Payments:
Is your LC in debt according to your SoA? You have until July 15th to pay a minimum of 20% of the outstanding amount (as stated in May's SoA), in order to pass the financial standard for Period 1.
So, it's summer. It's hard. I get it. I wish I could tell you I remember what it's like to be a support function VP in summer, but the truth is: when I was VP TM, I peaced out in Europe for the summer. (Yeah, I was that VP.) It was a great summer for me, but when I got back, let me tell you that my team wasn't quite as refreshed as I was.
The first lesson is therefore: don't be me. Don't peace out. That's step one.
Once you show up, that's when the hard work starts... but that's also when the potentially really cool stuff can happen. Today, I have a TED talk for you, and it's only 3 minutes long, because I know our attention span starts to suck around this time.
In this talk, Matt Cutts talks about the 30-day challenges he did in the course of the past few days, and how it affected his health, confidence and happiness. 30 days is what you need to add or lose a habit, but a 30-day challenge is also a good way to make a month much less forgettable, and much more meaningful and enjoyable.
Do you feel lost this summer? Unproductive? Demotivated?
Was there anything you ever wanted to try, but never could? Whether that's a habit related to AIESEC, school or just your personal life, summer is your chance to get started on something. Even if it's not about AIESEC, if you make your free time about something you care about and which makes you feel accomplished, you're much more likely to be productive and present during your AIESEC working hours.
Find a friend and do it together!
Alright, now that that's done, let's get to the crying part.
Since this is the last LC Health newsletter done by MC Strive, we thought we would use this section to say goodbye. We have one week left in the office, and as we tie loose ends, we start to realize that it's real: it's almost the end, it's already been a year, and what a ride it's been! So get your tissues, and try not to ruin your makeup.
"At the end of my AIESEC experience, I reflected by reading my old LCP and MCVP applications - my first steps in two of the most transformative experiences of my personal and professional life. On these applications you put down some arbitrary goals and visions for roles that you hardly understand, because you are yet to step into the job. Funnily enough though, when I look back at each goal and commitment I set, I found that I accomplished them by the end of both terms I completed.
While that sounds great, I'm still left with the sinking feeling that I could've done more. What this reflection taught me is that visualization is everything, and our progress and successes only go as far as we set our sights. So if I could send one message to this generation as you surpass the half of your terms, it's this: you are at your peak and more experienced than ever. Set your sights on something big, and your actions and efforts will align with what you've envisioned to bring your teams to where you want to go. You musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger.
Thank you, AIESEC Canada! And farewell!"
"In October of 2010, I had brunch with a high school friend of mine, with whom I had finally reunited after 3 years of studying in different postsecondary institutions. I had just started my B.A. at Université Laval, and we were supposed to "study" together for the afternoon. Obviously, we didn't and just talked.
After catching up about our lives for a little bit, she mentioned this organization she was a part of. She had just been selected for a VP role for 2011, and while I had no damn clue what that meant, she seemed quite excited about that. She said I should join, and I told her that, no, I wasn't really interested in her business club thingie. (I studied literature, there was no way I'd mingle with the arrogant business students. Pft.)
The thing with me, though, is that I am ridiculously easily influenced, and when she asked me to attend the info session in January, I agreed. (No harm in checking it out, right?) Little did I know that this info session was also actually the selection event. Two days later, I was an AIESEC member, in the Marcom team, and I was quite confused about how I'd gotten there. But I thought I'd give it a try. I could use the extracurricular activity, and I definitely needed to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. I probably would never go on the EB, but I could do this member thing for a while.
That was 6 years ago. (... Oops?) I've been a member, a TL, a VP, a National Trainer, a faci abroad and locally, an LCP, an NST, an MCVP. I never thought my official goodbye would come this late, and I certainly never thought my goodbye would be addressed to the entire country. Every role I took, I thought it'd be the last. Until I was given a new opportunity and I just... took it. It's quite amazing, being part of an organization that can still challenge you after 6 years, and teach you so much at such a young age. You guys are part of something great, and I hope you make the most of it. You certainly don't need to stay as long as I did, but I hope you seize every opportunity to try and achieve new things. This is your playground, use it.
Thank you for making this last experience so much more than I could have asked for. I'll see you... on the other side. ;)"
Joaquim will be saying his goodbye in Monday's LCP newsletter. And Nelson is still around for 6 more months, so he doesn't get the spotlight today! ;)
