Moving the vision from theory to reality.
The ASAE Board MeetsMoving the Vision From Theory to Reality
--Monday, August 12, 1991
Considering that compared to the traditional order of things it was a little backward, the forward-looking results are admirable: At its all-day Saturday meeting, the Board first voted to accept the final visioning document, subject to editing, then broke into six groups of 9-10 each for discussion of the document just voted on. Their charge: to brainstorm strategies for implementing the vision, prioritize the strategies, and consider how best to communicate the strategy to the allieds.
To jumpstart the brainstorming, the Board was led in five minutes of cobweb-cleaning stretching exercises. A pretty effective technique, judging from the thoughtfulness and energy of the session.
That the allied societies must be part of the development of the implementation plan was perhaps the strongest recurring theme among the six working groups.
The allied leadership was involved in the development of the vision document itself, and their involvement, concurred the Board members, continues to be critical in the implementation phases as well. Indeed, communicating and marketing the plan will comprise such things as training a cadre of trainers who can open two-way channels of communication about the vision with the ASAE membership and stakeholders. It means becoming skilled listeners, constantly taking in feedback, and making midcourse adjustments as needed.
It also means, according to the Board, defining exactly how the vision relates to every individual and to his or her association--using words that have meaning and that make the vision real. As one Board member put it, "We need to identify what's at stake for the stakeholders." ASAE needs to show its members how the vision will help them better manage their associations, helping members acquire the process so they can use it.
The vision, the Board agreed, must infuse every ASAE activity, program, and product and needs to be integrated with the Associations Advance America program so that everyone, not just ASAE members, is aware that volunteerism is alive and well in America thanks, in essence, to this vision.
"It's a partnership with the allieds," said several Board members, and if the enthusiasm of the brainstorming session is any indicator, visioning works best as an inclusive process.
While the dynamic of the brainstorming session added a unique character to the meeting, the Board did successfully conduct other important business in its more traditional format. Here's a quick rundown of several Board actions and discussions:
* The Board approved an amendment to
the Bylaws to add an additional
associate member to its ranks. This brings
the number of associate members on the
Board to two; each will serve a two-year
term on a staggered schedule. * On the recommendation of the Senior
Roundtable of Associate Members,
the Board voted to create a fellows
program for associate members. The
purpose of the new program is to
provide associate members
opportunities for contributing to ASAE in a
significant way as well as to recognize
professionalism among suppliers to
associations. The first class of
associate member fellows will be honored at
ASAE's 1992 Spring Convention and
Exposition. * Music licensing issues continue to
play at full volume. Board member
Jerald Jacobs, representing the Board's
Subcommittee on Music Licensing,
summarized a Board-commissioned
legal analysis of music licensing in the
association community. The analysis
describes such opportunities as
litigation, legislation, and association
"self-help" for challenging licensing
enforcement by ASCAP and BMI. While
the full analysis is, on the advice of
ASAE's attorneys, confidential, the
Board resolved unanimously that its
Executive Committee should take
action to assist associations in dealing
with music licensing. * While association boards are known
for sustaining committees and tasks
forces with lives of their own, in this
case two entities volunteered to "do
away" with themselves. The Allied
Societies Liaison Committee is
dissolved and would be replaced, when
necessary, with task forces; the
Societal Relations Task Force is being
combined with the Associations
Advance America Task Force. And not to
confuse matters, but this combined task
force was upgraded to committee status. * The treasurer's report highlighted a
number of budget items, including the
association's purchase of additional
equity in its headquarters building and
staff's $1.4 million reduction in
expenses to adjust to reduced revenues. * Board member Dick Briggs reported
that the number of A-PAC contributors
jumped almost 50 percent in FY 1991. * Division Director Debra Sher reported
that market research will be conducted
to gauge member interest in
establishing a new section in the area of
marketing, another in chapter relations,
and a third in foundation management. * The Board voted to broaden the
mandate of the ASAE Committee on
Diversity in Association Management to
include the entire membership, not
just ASAE's leadership. Developing a
more diverse membership base,
explained incoming Board member
Elizabeth Kovacs, CAE, is crucial to the success of the committee's leadership
development goal and better meets the
objectives of the vision. * A crystal replica of the capitol was
presented to Roger Childers and Bill
DeLoache of Callaway Gardens, Pine
Mountain, Georgia, for Callaway's
sponsorship of the Future Leaders
Conference, which was conducted by
the ASAE Fellows for the fourth year
running this past June.
PHOTO : ASAE Chairman Kathryn Johnson, CAE, and President Bill Taylor, CAE,--whose good spirits lasted the day long--listen attentively during the Board's meeting.
PHOTO : Top left, new Board is sworn in during installation ceremonies Wednesday at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel. Above, Gene N. Fondren, CAE, executive director of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, Austin, speaks as the 1991-92 ASAE Board Chairman.
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| Title Annotation: | meeting of ASAE boardmembers; American Society of Association Executives Official Convention Daily |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Association Management |
| Date: | Sep 1, 1991 |
| Words: | 916 |
| Previous Article: | Kudos to those behind-the-scenes professionals. |
| Next Article: | Wednesday's closing session hears Kemp. |
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