Volunteer IABC leaders learn, have fun in San Francisco.

"I wish my entire board could attend."

"There are so many ideas I can take back home."

"This is more than chapter management training. It's leadership training, too."

These are some of the comments heard during this year's Chapter Management Forum held in San Francisco, November 11-13 at the grand Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. CMF started off strong on Thursday with a session on "pulling it all together" as a chapter leader, volunteer manager and making the most of the IABC international network. Mike Heron, senior vice president for communications at the American Cancer Society, led a "filled to capacity" room of incoming chapter presidents.

CMF attenders had a chance to really see the inner workings of the association through a tour and reception at IABC world headquarters. Chapter leaders saw how IABC staff delivers a lot to make this international association run like well-oiled machine.

It's always good to hear the latest on what IABC is doing. IABC Chairman Marcia Vaughan, ABC, and Vice Chairman Ruta Skelton, ABC, gave attenders this information on Friday morning. Their overview led into a look at the future for the association and the profession in a session facilitated by Jeff Hallett, a futurist and management consultant. In this session, CMF attenders began to fully understand and appreciate the IABC vision statement adopted by the association.

Breakout sessions on Friday and Saturday provided an opportunity to take a practical approach to the real challenges faced by IABC chapters around the world.

Luncheons were not just for eating but for continuing the learning process. On Friday, Linda Peterson, principal, Peterson, Skolnick & Dodge, San Francisco, took a fun approach to helping figure out just what leadership is nowadays. Peterson was the featured speaker at the inaugural IABC Research Foundation Sharon Berzok Memorial Lecture. This lecture series is funded by past IABC Chairman and IABC Fellow, Bob Berzok, ABC, in the memory of his wife, who was a dedicated IABC leader.

On Saturday, attenders had a chance to understand what the "I" in IABC means, when Ruta Skelton, ABC, moderated a luncheon panel of leaders featuring Alicia Paramo, president, IABC/Mexico City; Fatimah Yeop Sendiri, president, IABC/Malaysia; and Peter Whippy, membership chairman, IABC/Belgium. This group of IABC leaders talked about the profession in their respective countries and the opportunities for IABC.

The significance of IABC's diversity and the role it plays in every aspect of the association's activities was brought home through a panel discussion featuring chapter leaders from IABC/Los Angeles, IABC/Capitale AIPC, San Francisco/IABC and IABC/Regina. Specific case studies were shared with CMF attenders so that chapters could see the practical application of diversity in IABC chapters.

Of course we try to have fun at CMF and the second edition of "Ask It!" did just that. Chapter leaders tested their wits on IABC facts and figures. The grand winner was Andrea Anderson, president of IABC/Atlantic Canada, representing Canada District 2.

Special thanks to our host chapters, San Francisco/IABC, Silicon Valley/IABC and IABC/Sacramento, for organizing the "Dine-Around" and steering us to many fine culinary establishments throughout the "City by the Bay." CMF...what a great idea! It combines management training and fun resulting in stronger chapters, better working relationships and an association ready to meet the future. Brenda Siler is a communication representative at AARP, Atlanta, Ga. She served as chairwoman of the 1993 Chapter Management Forum.