NAMA leader's message. (National NAMA News).

As I start my year as NAMA President, I see challenge. Not to be confused with lack of excitement, anticipation, commitment and vision but with challenge as the key to what lies ahead this year. Part of that is asking you, the PEOPLE of NAMA, to join in on the challenge and share your time, thoughts, talents and resources with me and the rest of the executive committee.

We look to the challenge this year and the next several as strengthening the platform. It may not sound sexy, catchy or exciting, but it is sound, important and absolutely necessary for the health of NAMA. If the platform is not solid, then the ability to grow and add new services, values and scope will have little chance of success. NAMA ultimately is a PEOPLE driven business.... providing value to PEOPLE, growing PEOPLE, and involving PEOPLE.

Take a few minutes to review the identified challenges and the proposed focus for the upcoming year.

Challenge factors:

* Declining membership

* General economic downturn

* Downturn of ag specific economy

* Constriction and downright restriction of budgets that support members' involvement in NAMA.

* Increasing time pressures of members which leads to attendance, and involvement from leaders.

* Increased competition for members

Here are the platforms that we are focusing on and intend to strengthen in the upcoming year:

Chapters- core to the conception of NAMA and core to the growth of NAMA. The chapters have always held an important role and like many things the importance has some cyclical patterns. The executive committee believes the importance of strong healthy chapters is HIGH on the importance side.

Best of NAMA- core to NAMA and core to the growth and financial health of NAMA. The changes in categories and the regionalization has moved BON to the next level. We must not sit on that but continue to evolve it to best serve members.

National Meetings- core to NAMA and core to the financial health of the organization. Focusing on one major National event that drives member involvement, professional development, recognition, and revenue is a must.

Students- core to NAMA and the future involvement of those future leaders in ag marketing. Support, recognition and involvement with the students from national and chapters will be a focus.

I would love to hear from you, the PEOPLE of NAMA, about your thoughts, reactions, and ideas to what lies ahead.