Positive feedback. (Preview).

A few days before I sat down to write this column, the staff of ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT received some great news. The Society of National Association Publications let us know that we've won a bronze award in overall magazine excellence and a silver award in magazine design excellence in SNAP's 2003 Excel Awards competition. While not our ultimate barometer, the recognition by other publishing professionals of how well we address our audience's needs is darn exciting news, especially because the competition is stiff. It is also news worth sharing with you, who are the ultimate barometer. I thank the talented staff that I'm lucky to work with, and we thank you--anyone who has ever written an article, answered a call for an interview, participated in a focus group, sent a note, expressed an idea, asked a question. You helped make the recognition happen because your experience and insights help build ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT every month.

This issue is no exception. The package of articles beginning on page 28--"Brave New Board," "Nine Keys for Reinvigorating Board Leadership," and "Incubating a New Model of Service Delivery"--reflect the not uncommon association imperative to step up staff and volunteer focus on and momentum toward profoundly bigger goals. In this case, the backdrop is Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's goal of making 1 million mentoring matches by 2010. In "Brave New Board," Big Brothers Big Sisters Chair Joe Connolly describes the way in which the board has gone about re-creating itself to lead that initiative. Two ways in which the board set out to improve itself:

* "The board's primary focus should be on achieving the BBBSA strategic plan and serving 1 million children by 2010. This has to be the driving force behind virtually all of the board's efforts.

* "Significant upgrades in both at-large and regional officer board members must occur. Meaning, we have to find people with access to greater spheres of influence and affluence. However, the board size should either be smaller or not increased from its present level, which is hovering around 45 members. Therefore, low-performing current board members should not be carried forward,"

Following Connolly's feature is an interview with Janice McKenzie-Crayton, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. "Incubating a New Model of Service Delivery" (page 36) is a study of integrating the national goal at the local level. In between "Brave New Board" and the interview is a sidebar, "Nine Keys for Reinvigorating Board Leadership," by Paul Connolly, which you also won't want to miss.

The rest of our feature lineup goes like this:

* Online's Complementary Fit" (page 40) shares examples of associations' use of print and electronic publishing together to better serve constituents' needs,

* Process and Results" (page 48) outlines the application of a process called human performance improvement that is grounded in identifying and addressing the true causes of performance glitches and thereby increasing organizational performance.

* An Effective Advocate" (page 54) reflects lessons the Consumer Electronics Association has learned and implemented across its past two decades of advocacy success.

* Mind Your Merger" (page 60) sets against a background of telltale merger signs some practical, and tried, advice about the vital element of communication before, during, and after a consolidation. And finally, in the companion article "Collaboration, Competition, or Cannibalism? A Personal Perspective" (page 68), a 20year veteran of associations offers observations and pointed questions about the effect of competition and consolidation.

I began this column by sharing the good news of honors earned by ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT and thanking you for your part in the creation of this product. If you have an idea, a suggestion, a criticism, call us up or drop us a line. Hearing your experiences, seeing your questions, is our way of knowing what's real. All feedback is positive, and our standard for meeting your expectations is nothing short of gold.

Keith C. Skillman

Editor in Chief

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