HSAE April Meeting: The Global Summit on Social Responsibility

OUR DEFINITION

Social responsibility (SR): A commitment to leveraging the power of associations to create practices that make a positive social, economic and environmental impact while creating healthier organizations.

OVERVIEW

The world’s issues are too complex for a single organization to tackle. However, by joining forces, our achievements will be greater than our individual efforts. More than 287 million people in every industry, profession and social cause are represented around the world by ASAE & The Center members and their organizations. Imagine what we could accomplish in terms of helping society, the global economy and the environment if we all work as individuals, organizations and as a sector toward positive change. At the Global Summit on Social Responsibility— Leveraging the Power of Associations for a New Magnitude of Leadership ,we will define how associations can harness their power and influence to create a worldwide social responsibility movement, speed the spread of solutions and ultimately help build a better world.  Join HSAE on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at the NorrisConferenceCenter in Houston together with other connected sites throughout the United States and around the world, Global Summit participants will collaboratively craft the principles, guidelines and actions that will transform this initiative from conversation to action. This will not be a typical conference with speakers. The Global Summit will be facilitated by Director of the Center for Business as Agents of World Change at CaseWestern ReserveUniversity, David Cooperrider Ph.D., and will be based on the Appreciative Inquiry model. Expect to “roll up your sleeves” and plan a future we want to help create.

GOALS

Together, at the Global Summit, we will advance the case for social responsibility as a strategic imperative.

We will identify the unique competencies that associations bring to the table and how those competencies can be effectively leveraged. We will identify opportunities that the association world can uniquely respond to, generate guiding principles for associations in this arena, share strengths and celebrate our successes.

BENEFITS OF INCORPORATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

One thing is clear: Social responsibility isn’t about charity—it’s smart business. Studies show benefits to associations include potential cost savings, more engaged members and motivated staff, increased visibility, easier employee recruitment, better risk management and higher member retention and recruitment rates.

Meeting Agenda:
Timeframe	Task
9:00 AM CDT	Welcome by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership "Investing in a Task of Historic Significance"        A Special Opportunity For the Association Community to Advance a New Magnitude of Social Responsibility·        Worldwide Roll-Call From Colleagues on Every Continent* Opening Appreciative Inquiry (AI) "In Search of Innovations and Stories of Association Leadership"        Exploring the Next Phases of Social Responsibility in an Era of Massive Change        Insights Into How the Strategic Lens of Social Responsibility Can Help Strengthen Our Ability to Serve Our Members        Going Beyond An Obligation Mindset to An Innovation Mindset: What Happens When Doing Good and Doing Well Converge? Why is Socially Responsible Leadership Increasingly Key to Association Leadership? Doesn?t Every Profession and Industry Want to Be Seen As Part of the Solution? How Are Industry Leading Stars Doing It? Discovery Part One: Roundtable and Plenary Dialogues* "What Do Associations Uniquely Bring to the World of Social Responsibility and Sustainability?"        Analysis of the Positive Core of Association Sector Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results        How Are Associations Helping To Scale Up Solutions For the Future? What's Coming Next?
12:30-1:15 PM CDT	Luncheon
1:15-5:30 PM CDT	Discovery Part Two: Roundtable Work and Plenary Dialogues* "How Do We Leverage The Huge Diversity of Association Strengths?"

The Houston Society of Association Executives (HSAE) is an organization of charitable and trade association leaders whose purpose is to enhance the professionalism and performance of those involved with voluntary membership organizations in the greater Houston area. HSAE Members serve over hundreds of thousands of members in Houston and around the world. HSAE is a unique resource to the professional lives of Houston's Association Executives, offering outstanding opportunities to network with peers and to educate association leaders and their staff members.

HSAE is a unique resource to the professional lives of Houston's Association Executives, offering outstanding opportunities to network with peers and to educate association leaders and their staff members.