Promoting peer networks.I enjoyed the December 2004 article "CFO See Chief Financial Officer. Q & A," as I think the concept of peer-to-peer contact is critical to the success of association executives. I am the coordinator for an informal group of chief operating officers (or equivalent positions) formed 10 years ago and consisting of eight members in the Washington, D.C., area. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ability to draw on a group of peers with whom you can share relevant experiences to assist you in your work (and even personal life) is very worthwhile. We operate with one rule--all our conversations are confidential. Each month one of the members serves as host to ensure that the cost and location are fairly distributed. During the past 10 years, a few members have left the area or retired. At those times, we add a new person, ensuring that our group numbers between six and eight for lunch each month. Between lunch meetings our group communicates via e-mail or phone as needed, sharing questions, policies, advice, and encouragement. We purposely pick members that are diverse in staff and budget size and whose associations are not competing with one another. We have also gravitated to those people who have obtained their Certified Association Executive Certified Association Executive (CAE) is a professional certification sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Candidates for the certification must meet certain educational and experience requirements as well as pass an examination before the designation, are active participants in 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 , and feel the need to be involved in their profession. Many of us have served on section councils, have been council chairs, are ASAE Fellows, or have held other leadership positions at ASAE or the former Greater Washington Society of Association Executives The Greater Washington Society of Association Executives is a non-profit professional organization for executive directors and executive vice presidents of professional societies in the Washington, DC area. . Our group consists of Kathleen Berry, CAE (1) (Computer-Aided Engineering) Software that analyzes designs which have been created in the computer or that have been created elsewhere and entered into the computer. , Associated Builders and Contractors; Christopher Busky, CAE, Association Management Group; Paul Dubrachek, CAE, Society of American Military Engineers; Doris Fee, CAE, Blue Ridge Business Consultants; Charles Martin, CAE, American Physical Therapy Association The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 66,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. ; Wayne Miller, CAE, American Health Lawyers Association; Jeffrey D. Morgan, CAE, Futures Industry Association The Futures Industry Association (FIA) is a trade association in the United States composed of futures commission merchants. A futures commission merchant is analogous to a broker; they are entities that accept orders and payment for commodity futures for execution on a futures ; and Robyn Morriss, CAE, Reinsurance Association of America. Your article shows the importance of these informal networks and I hope others will find or establish their own professional support and information networks. It is well worth the time. Jeffrey D. Morgan, CAE Chief Operating Officer, Futures Industry Association, Washington, D.C.; jmorgan@futuresindustry.org |
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