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

Recently, a good friend of mine described me as a kind of `glass-half-full' type of person. You know, always trying to look at the positive side of things. At first, I was pleased that I came across that way to her. Then, I thought about it a bit and came to the conclusion that I just didn't want to see the half-full portion, but also all the opportunities that the half-empty part offered. I guess that's the Swede in me coming out. When my family goes to a smorgasbord (buffet to all you non-Scandinavians), we love to see an empty plate. It allows us to take some things we know and like. And, maybe a few things we've never had before. When your glass, plate ... or even your career ... are half-empty, you have a great opportunity to refill and refresh or try something altogether new.

I guess that's how I feel about NAMA. We could certainly look at this past year as maybe more than `half-empty.' President Marjory Walker presided over one of the most difficult years I can ever remember for NAMA, for the Ag business, and frankly for the U.S. as a whole. Yet Marjorie helped us weather snowstorms, America at War, economic instability, company mergers, downsizing, and the overall struggles for dot-com companies. Marjorie, my hat's off to you!

Of course, we've faced similar problems before, especially in the downturn of the 80's. I am confident we can overcome the adversities facing us now. Incoming President Teresa Henrichs and the rest of the Executive Committee, along with your NAMA board of directors are committed to the strengthening of NAMA as a service organization ... a service to our members.

You'll see a renewed interest in the development and support of local chapters, providing greater opportunities for members to develop and use business contacts. This is not a small thing. Many in the NAMA organization believe that `contacts' means an opportunity for media salespeople to sell to agencies; for agencies to sell to companies. And, while this is true to an extent, such contacts benefit everyone, including those on the company side. By knowing the representatives of media, agencies, and other companies, we create a network of information resources. I, for one, have benefited from the knowledge, insights, and helpful attitudes showcased by other NAMA members.

As we look to place new things on our plates, to refill our dedication and enthusiasm to the Ag business, and to refresh our thinking and creativity, we will need members who are engaged in the business of NAMA. And that business is the business of helping people ... with information, directions, support, and a glass-half-full mentality along with an opportunistic approach to the `empty' side.

Get engaged with your local chapter. By helping others see the opportunities in a half-empty glass or plate, you'll help yourself taste the possibilities, as well.