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It's that time of year again, you know what I'm talking about, the time where banquet food and coffee become your main source of sustenance and the 4 hours you spend in a hotel bed become your only moments of solitude. You guessed it, annual conference season!
Here at MCA we have made it through five annual conferences thus far and have six more in the works for this season. With 15 associations MCA is often in conference mode, but Spring and Summer bring in the main event for many of us. Along with the annual business meeting, conference time also affords associations the time to provide continuing education and networking opportunities to a large number of members.
MCA's 15 associations vary from commercial real estate (see NAIOP's awards below) to the association for association executives (see the effect WSAE had on critical association legislation below). With organizations in such varied fields we have learned that no two associations are alike. With that in mind we would like to invite you to read a little more about a couple of clients and look for Confluence in your inbox each quarter to find out about others. |
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Six Good Reasons to Engage in
Strategic Planning for Your Association
By: Lynn L. Melby, CAE
1. It helps make the best use of available resources. Your association, if it is like most, is not overflowing with assets and you need to be sure resources are being deployed where they are most effective.
2. It's a primary responsibility of the Board. The Board is required to determine what outcomes are desired by the association and clarify what needs to be done.
3. It serves as a terrific management tool. The staff has a significantly more clear idea of how they should prioritize their time and effort to assure outcomes are achieved.
4. It builds community. As members of the association, Board and staff share ideas, clarify values and communicate with each other. During the process of developing and executing the plan it creates a spirit of community and shared values.
5. It builds continuity. The process of planning in a strategic way assures that the organization keeps its focus over time and doesn't veer off in a new direction every year.
6. It encourages assessment. The plan should provide a measurement tool to determine how the organization is doing in achieving its specific goals. To do activities without assessment is like bowling without pins. You never know how you are doing.
Remember that Strategic Planning is a process and only works if it is revisited and revised throughout the year, if the plan helps create the Board's agenda, if the staff utilizes it as a "to do list," and if resources are devoted to those things that are important. |
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Local NAIOP Chapter Wins Four Awards
The Washington State Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) was recently given four national awards at the Chapter Merit Awards Dinner held in Washington D.C. Following is a list of the awards:
Chapter of The Year (Large Chapter Category-over 500) - This is a first-ever for the Washington State Chapter; the award recognizes work, participation and superior achievements of NAIOP chapters. In addition to the trophy, the Chapter received a $1,000 education grant.
Community Service - The Chapter won for the Community Enhancement project at Camp Long in West Seattle, where some 400 volunteers donated time and materials to make improvements to the 68-acre park.
Periodical Publication - This award recognized the Chapter's "Game Day" newsletter that took on a bolder-brighter look and format in 2008, communicating topical events and news stories to association members.
National Political Action Campaign (PAC) - A special award was given to the Chapter for raising the most funds among Chapters across the nation.
The Chapter's past-president, Tony Stewart, was in Washington D.C., to accept the awards. He states, "It's a prideful moment for all of us to receive such recognition nationally. Many thanks go out to those who gave their hard work and dedication to enable us to share and compete against some of the best."
The annual Chapter Merit Awards honor the outstanding events, publications and strides of the NAIOP's Chapters throughout the year. The awards are presented at the Chapter Leadership & Legislative Retreat. Award winners are chosen by a peer committee comprising volunteer judges.
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WSAE Opposition Kills Bill to Tax Non-Profits
Early in the 2009 Washington State Legislative Session, legislation was introduced that would have removed the business and occupations tax exemption from non-profit organizations, including trade associations and professional societies.
While sponsors of the bill (HB 1255) and legislative staff said they did not intend the bill to apply to the association community and that they were specifically going after revenue from non-profit country clubs, the language clearly would have removed the exemption from association-sponsored events and dues revenue. Opposition to the bill was spearheaded by the Washington Society of Association Executives (WSAE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) also sent an alert to its members warning of legislative attempts to raise revenue by taxing previously exempt association income.
The bill was referred to the House Finance Committee and a hearing was held on January 27. WSAE members and legislative consultants turned out in force and thirteen pages of sign-up sheets were filled with signatures of association advocates in opposition to the bill. Only two persons signed up in favor.
After one attempt to rewrite the legislation, the bill died due to the overwhelming opposition from WSAE and the association community. | |
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We hope you enjoyed reading our new and improved company newsletter. Please watch for a new edition in your inbox each quarter. We invite your questions and feedback.
Sincerely, |
| The Partners and Staff of Melby, Cameron & Anderson |
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