Perspectives: four Cs for NRPA: to move into the future, the association must adopt consistency, credibility, continuity and courage.

For those who know me best, they would tell you that I ma bit of a packrat--one who hates to throw away much of anything for fear that someday" I may need it." In my office, my piles represent a vast array of "stuff" that will come in handy for another project, a history for a presentation or program.

Recently I perused my piles looking for an article I remembered that talked about three Cs--Consistency, Credibility and Continuity. Then I remembered a second article with another C for Courage. Then I realized that these four Cs stand for NRPA.

Carlo Rivazza, Rotary International president from 1999-2000, wrote in his State of Rotary address to 1.2 million members worldwide (Rotarian, July 1999), "to be successful in the new millennium, the 21st century and be a 21st century organization, one must apply the criteria of consistency, credibility and continuity to all actions and discussions of the organization."

We, too, as NRPA, are creating the future with the choices we make and the actions we take today. What does our governance, education programs, financial health, research, public policy and membership look like and need to look like in the future? Are we prepared to be or preparing to be a 21st century association? Consistency, credibility, continuity and courage can help guide us to answer these questions.

Consistency, as explained by Rivazza, "requires that individuals adhere to their core beliefs and allow their basic principles to guide their actions." For 40 years, NRPA has maintained, adhered to and embraced its fundamental mission, goals and its ideals.

However, consistency for consistency's sake will not better NRPA--we need new methods of doing business, new ideas and a willingness to change.

Credibility, according to Rivazza, "means acting with honor in all dealings." The credibility of NRPA as an association is of utmost importance to ensure long-lasting relationships with our membership, past leadership and those who wish to associate with us.

Rivazza described continuity as being "essential to any organization in which leadership changes annually. Continuity requires a certain amount of humility and generosity." One-time initiatives, changing services or incomplete programs don't achieve results.

My second find, "Everything You Wanted to Know about Courage ... But Were Afraid to Ask" was in Fast Company, September 2004. The article asked "what is courage?" and explained that "the very word that comes from the heart, for 'coeur' is the French word for heart."

"What we label courage is a strong emotional commitment--and the key word is emotional--to some idea." Those ideas could be a vision for driving the enterprise, values for what is important, and principles of what is right and wrong.

If we truly want to be a 21st century association and "one NRPA," we must apply the criteria for consistency, credibility and continuity, staying true to our vision, mission, goals and ideals with a strong emotional commitment. Soon enough, we will find ourselves on a new, courageous path into the future.

Steve Neu

NRPA President