Letter from the Chair:

Looking Ahead to a Year of Connection

Dear DAA-ers,

As we step into a brand new year, I want to take a moment to say how genuinely excited I am for what’s ahead for DAA. Serving as Chair continues to be an honor, and I’m deeply grateful for the creativity, dedication, and heart that each of you brings to this organization.

As I’ve been thinking about the year ahead, one word keeps coming back to me: Connection.

This year, my hope is that DAA becomes not just a place where we show our talents, but a place where we truly show up for one another. Connection can look like many things—meeting a fellow artist you didn’t know before, staying after a meeting to share a meal and a conversation, or jumping into an event or activity you’ve never tried before.

We’ll be working to create more opportunities for these moments through member meet-ups, dinners after meetings, markets, and other events designed to bring us together beyond the business side of things. These gatherings are about building relationships, exchanging ideas, supporting one another’s creative journeys, and strengthening the sense of community that makes DAA so special.

I encourage each of you this year to get engaged in whatever way feels right to you—attend an event, invite someone to sit with you, volunteer, or simply take a few extra minutes to connect. New connections often spark new inspiration, and together they help our organization grow in meaningful ways.

I truly believe that when we prioritize connection, we create a stronger, more vibrant DAA—for ourselves, for our artists, and for our community.

Here’s to a year of creativity, collaboration, and connection. I’m looking forward to sharing it with all of you.

Cheers!

Meagan Garris
Chair
Dahlonega Arts Alliance