A letter from Peg."Organizations that fail to anticipate future trends, or that are slow to adapt to new technologies and social evolution, will inevitably be slower than their competitors to respond to changing markets." -- Exploring the Future, ASAE ASAE American Society of Association Executives ASAE American Society of Agricultural Engineers (Society for Engineering in Agricultural, Food, and Biological Systems) ASAE Alkali-Sulfite-Anthraquinone-Ethanol 2001 This statement jumped out at me as I started reading, Exploring the Future. It goes on to say that "in an uncertain marketplace surviving and thriving requires a willingness to view strategy development and operational refinements through a new lens." What it fails to say is how uncomfortable this process makes everyone! It fails to tell you that this is not a smooth process, nor is it free of mistakes and wrong turns! And, it fails to tell you that the challenges you will face in your effort to thrive will not put you on the road to popularity. On the other hand, exploring the future and the unknown serves as a lovely platform for lively dialogue and discovery! Exploring the Future talks about seven strategic issues that an organization must undertake in order to thrive. I don't have time to review all seven but would like to highlight three at this time. Meaning Matters Competition for members' attention is ever increasing. We can no longer just deliver traditional programs using traditional means. However, delivery services and programs that resonate res·o·nate v. res·o·nat·ed, res·o·nat·ing, res·o·nates v.intr. 1. To exhibit or produce resonance or resonant effects. 2. and have relevance will become more important -- meaning that matters to members and the public! Our recent opinion research uncovered words, messages, and services that don't resonate with people and create disconnects. These discoveries make us uncomfortable but are worthy of study and reflection. Our outcome research will not only validate To prove something to be sound or logical. Also to certify conformance to a standard. Contrast with "verify," which means to prove something to be correct. For example, data entry validity checking determines whether the data make sense (numbers fall within a range, numeric data what we intuitively know but will surface areas of needed improvement. We will have to decide whether we take this information and create relevant meaning or dismiss it because it causes us discomfort. Inclusivity It is suggested that the future means "multi-everything." Certain "watchwords" were identified: multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-national, and multi-generational. The ACA ACA - Application Control Architecture National Board has been looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. ways to tackle the threat of "whiting" or "aging" out as an association. We need to decide whether we are going to exclude or embrace new markets and the ever-broadening industry. Generational Synergy The enhanced result of two or more people, groups or organizations working together. In other words, one and one equals three! It comes from the Greek "synergia," which means joint work and cooperative action. We are now at a point where we are working with four distinct generational groups: the Silent Generation (born 1925-42); the Boomers (born 1943-60); Generation X (born 1961-81); and the Millennials. We must ask ourselves how we will provide meaning to these four distinct generations. We must ask ourselves how we can demonstrate inclusivity to four generations with diverse outlooks and perceptions on life. It can be done but will we take on that challenge? I have come to recognize that the camp community does not pale at difficult or hard issues. You only need to talk to camp professionals about all of their daily risk management challenges, and you become incredibly cognizant cog·ni·zant adj. Fully informed; conscious. See Synonyms at aware. [From cognizance.] Adj. 1. of the fact that this is not a population of people who are faint of heart! Whether I am talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to one of the Pioneers of Camping or a young camp program director seeking his voice in the association, they have no other agenda but to thrive! PEG peg 1. To fix the price of a new security issue during the issuance period through buying and selling it in the open market in order to ensure that the price in the secondary market will not fall below the offering price. L. SMITH |
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