Heartland - January General Membership Meeting Recap

A big, bold thank you to everyone who joined us for our January General Membership Meeting (including our new friend from the Southern California Chapter!) We shared an initial look at our 2026 programming framework, discussed our chapter's goals for the year, and opened the floor for candid conversation about what feels most urgent — and most worthwhile — right now.

If you weren’t able to attend, you can:

• Watch the meeting recording:
  

  
  

• Share ideas or feedback via our brief survey

• Or reach us anytime at heartland@retaildesigninstitute.com

This year’s programming will continue to evolve as the year and the world around us progresses, and your input genuinely helps shape where it goes next.

This year, our programming centers on a simple but demanding question: What’s worth it?

From how we spend our money as consumers, to the work we take on as professionals, to the communities we choose to invest in — we’re asking what truly deserves our time, attention, labor, and care.

We’ll explore these questions through a distinctly Heartland lens, rooted in the realities of our region and the people who call it home. Some answers may challenge us. We hope you’ll stay curious — and join the conversation.