The
Association Manager
A Newsletter for Organization Leaders
Published Courtesy of Wisconsin Association Management, LLC
Volume
II , Issue IV
Download Formatted Version
(.PDF)
Inside This Issue:
Ask WAM: Leader's Forum
WAM, LLC's Services
National Association Chooses WAM, LLC
WAM Staffer Gets Hitched
Need a Projector for your Next Event?
How to Create Synergy on your Board/Committee
Wisconsin Ethics Board Published Lobbying
Reports Online
New Law for Standard Setting Organizations
Leadership Quote
Holiday Party Reminder
About WAM, LLC
ASK WAM: Leader's Forum
Questions
by association leaders, Responses by WAM, LLC staff
If
you have a question for the next newsletter, e-mail it to
info@wamllc.net
Question
Our
association has 5 independent chapters representing different
regions of Wisconsin. There is little, mostly
no, communication among the 5 chapters. I realize that
in many cases, like legislative monitoring or annual conference
planning, we are all probably reinventing the wheel. Please
provide some suggestions to increase the lines of communication.
Answer
Thank
you for asking this question, as it is certainly one that
applies to any association, whether it is communication and
coordination among local, statewide or nationally affiliated
chapters. A key component to any form of consistent
reliable communication is with a professional staff.
With or without a staff, there are certainly some quick simple
things you can do that will go a long way.
First,
place a phone call to your counter-parts in other chapters,
once a quarter. It is important to communicate with
each other because each chapter essentially has the same goals
for the profession you represent.
Second,
agree to send your communications, including monthly mailings,
newsletters, brochures, directories, and emails, to your counter-parts
and vice versa. In most associations that we manage, this
effort has resulted in an open and productive exchange of
information that ultimately benefits the industry. Also,
it maximizes the value of your membership by providing additional
information and resources.
Third,
consider planning a joint event, such as an annual conference,
trade show or holiday party. Members of most associations
will not mind the travel if it is limited to once or twice
a year. Inherently, implementation of these concepts
would differ between a professional staff versus volunteer-run
organization.
Question
Dear
WAM- Can you please provide some sample reasons for an association
member to serve on our board of directors?
Answer
It
is the board of director's responsibility to manage the business
and affairs of the association and ensure its integrity and
long-term viability. While there are many reasons to
serve on a board of directors, it is important that a nominating
committee play an active part in selecting a viable board
of directors for your association.
This
can be a typical sales pitch for a member attempting to make
their decision: First, you will only get out of it what
you put into it. One of the best ways to influence the
direction of your association is to be an active participating
board member (or committee member). Second, being a
board member in a professional trade association is an excellent
networking tool. The normal course of business as a
representative for your organization will introduce you to
other companies, government officials and media outlets.
Serving on the Board is also a great resume builder, as any
employer likes to see that a candidate for employment is an
active player in the community and also has a passion for
the industry.
Employing
an association management company will greatly assist in the
process, as we are seasoned professionals who participate
in the process annually for each of the associations we have
the privilege to manage.
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WAM,
LLC Provides Its Associations These Comprehensive Services:
•
Administrative & Executive Management
•
Database Management
•
Event Planning (Meetings, Programs, Trade shows)
•
Financial Management
•
Fundraising
•
Membership Recruitment & Retention
•
Publications & Communications Management
•
Government & Public Relations
•
Web Site Development & Site Maintenance
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National
Association Chooses WAM, LLC
The
Association of Professional Reserve Analysts has hired WAM,
LLC as a consultant to plan its upcoming Fall Symposium in
Chicago, as well as assist with the implementation
of several programs and services to its members. The
Association of Professional Reserve Analysts, APRA, a nonprofit
corporation, was created in 1995 by principals of the nation's
leading Reserve Study companies. The purpose of APRA
is to provide a forum and structure to establish a common
base of knowledge, standards of care and professionalism within
the Reserve Study industry.
In
less than a month, one of its board members exclaimed that
WAM, LLC is "doing an excellent job of promoting APRA."
Our response was, "We've only just begun!"
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WAM
Staffer Gets Hitched!
Congratulations to Brian Parrish,
WAM, LLC Director of Membership Services for his recent marriage
on May 31, 2004 to his wife Judy. The entire WAM, LLC staff
was present for the great occasion. We wish them much health,
happiness and continued success!
Need
a Projector for your Next Event?
WAM's easily operated, state-of-the-art projector
can be rented for your next event. At $150 per day,
your association can rent the projector at a fraction of the
cost of other venues that rent projectors. Please call
(414) 271-9456 for more info.
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How
to Create Synergy on your Board/Committee
By:
Christopher T. Ruditys, CEO
The statement, "you either have synergy or you don't," completely
goes against any ideal setting because synergy does
not just appear, it must be created. Synergy, an aesthetic
vibe that helps inspire and motivate a group to work together
as a team, can be created by uniting for a common goal or
cause. How a group achieves this team-building technique
depends on the enthusiasm, commitment, dedication, and drive
that each Board and Committee member possesses, and passes
along to other members of an association. In addition
to this, it is vital that the staff not only carries out the
goals of the Board and Committee members, but also continues
the drive toward successful aspirations with passion and zeal.
WAM ensures that the level of synergy stays elevated by surveying
what has worked in the past, what works right now in the present,
and what the association expects to see in the future.
Because
leadership on boards and committees changes constantly, it
is important to bridge the gap between the past and present
to ensure a progressive and positive adjustment. In
order to keep the continuity of an association, it is essential
to have consistency in a trusted staff that maintains and
inspires leaders to create a solid, productive team.
Also, the role of a volunteer is so important to help ensure
that the association serves the needs of its members by helping
to establish direction and policies that focus on long term,
strategic issues. The staff of an association helps
the members move ahead in a positive direction according to
the policies established by the volunteers. Maintaining
this balance involves a strong partnership between the leaders,
members and staff of an association. Understanding how
to implement a high level of synergy within an association
will not only maximize the success of it, but will also surpass
expectations.
Listed
below are suggestions of how to heighten the level of synergy
that have worked within our partnering associations:
-
Allow
for newer members to serve on committees or as chairperson(s),
so the association will benefit from new and different
ideas.
-
Constantly
update and modify your website and newsletter to create
or to advance an image/brand that will better reflect
the changes in the industry.
-
Add
a new program/event or make significant changes to a function
that has experienced low attendance.
-
Initiate
staff and leadership retreats, both fun and educational,
on an annual or semi-annual basis.
-
Create
joint functions with related associations administered
by WAM.
-
Staff
should be in constant contact with leadership to keep
them abreast on issues.
-
Yearly
strategic planning sessions are essential to keep the
leadership team and staff both focused and excited about
the direction of the association.
As
a "TEAM," the staff of WAM recently read and discussed the
Wall Street Journal business bestseller FISH! Catch the Energy
& Release the Potential. I would recommend that
you read this book to improve results within your association
and to create a highly synergetic and fun work environment.
We
are proven professionals at generating synergy and excitement
for each association that we manage. Please take a moment
to read the enclosed testimonials and board survey results
from a recent WAM, LLC Board of Directors Satisfaction Survey.
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Wisconsin
Ethics Board Published Lobbying Reports Online
http://ethics.state.wi.us/
The
deadline for businesses to report the amount of time and money
they spent lobbying during the first half of 2004 passed on
August 2, 2004.
According
to the Ethics Board, it is encouraging all lobbying organizations
to submit their reports online. Over 95% of the organizations
that have filed their paperwork so far this year have done
so online.
694
organizations comprised of 788 lobbyists have registered with
Wisconsin's Ethics Board to lobby the current legislature.
The Ethics Board director, Roth Judd, estimated that organizations
will pay their lobbyists $40 to $50 million for their work
during the 2003-2004 legislative session.
New
Law for Standard-Setting Organizations
Source:
Association Management, August 2004
The
FTC recently issued a notice on implementing the Standards
Development Organization Advancement Act of 2004, which was
signed into law on June 22. The act extends the limited
antitrust protection to standard-setting organizations, limiting
the civil liability for standards development to single, rather
than triple, damages for all standard-setting activities.
However, these organizations must file a proper notification
with the FTC and the Department of Justice to obtain the protections
provided by the act. Notifications must be filed no
later than September 22, 2004. For more information,
contact the FTC's Office of the General Counsel at (202) 626-2463.
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Leadership
Quote
"Leaders
aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything
else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to
pay to achieve that goal, or any goal."
~
Vince Lombardi, Former Green Bay Packers
Coach
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Holiday
Party Reminder
Is
your association, business or family hosting a holiday party
this December? If so, it is never too early to arrange
venue accommodations. Be sure to put a deposit down
at the venue of your choice as soon as possible. This
way, you will block aside the date and location of your choice.
Also, remember to inform your members so they can set this
date aside on their calendars.
About
WAM, LLC
WAM,
LLC provides superior administrative and executive services
to non profit associations seeking to take their organization
to the next level. With over 25 years of combined association
management experience, WAM, LLC will work with your Board
of Directors, committees and membership to implement programs
and services, as well as alleviate the day-to-day administrative
tasks that must occur for your group to be successful.
We believe in implementation. If the membership, a committee,
or the Board makes a decision, we will see that decision through
to the very end. When the member truly recognizes value, they
will remain a member, refer your association to other potential
members, and become more active.
The Association Manager
is published bi-monthly by Wisconsin Association Management,
LLC to educate association leaders about running an effective
non profit association. WAM, LLC offers its organizations
significant cost-savings and efficiencies due to the economies
of scale it is able to achieve for its clients. Currently,
Wisconsin Association Management, LLC administers the Wisconsin
Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (WCAI), Wisconsin Commercial
Real Estate Women (WCREW), Wisconsin Sign Association (WSA),
Wisconsin Self Storage Association and Chapter 12 of the Association
for Facilities Engineering (AFE). For more information about
the comprehensive set of administrative services we provide
to our non profit associations, please call us at (414) 271-9456.
As our satisfied associations say, “Put the administrative
work in the hands of the experts and do what you do best.”
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