Hello [firstname],
Welcome to Association Insight, the electronic news publication of the Houston Society of Association Executives. We welcome the news of member organizations, whether they are regular members or associate members. Please send your items for the next newsletter to pruth@paularuth.com by June 15.
May Luncheon: Leading with Integrity
Larry Johnson is the coauthor of the highly acclaimed, top selling "Absolute Honesty: Building a Corporate Culture That Values Straight Talk and Rewards Integrity." He has written more than 50 published articles on the topics of leadership, change and customer service. Since 1986 Larry has delivered speeches and seminars to more than 150,000 business, government and health-care professionals. He's not only been asked to speak in every state of the union, he's received rave reviews from audiences in Great Britain, China, Indonesia, Central America and Australia. Larry has been
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Number 1 ranked seminar leader at the Inc. Magazine National Customer Service Conference
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#1 ranked speaker at the Inc. Magazine Workforce Conference
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A featured speaker at eight annual conferences of the International Customer Service Association
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One of only 10 speakers to be certified by Tom Peters to teach his "In Search of Excellence, Thriving on Chaos, and Liberation Management" seminars
Additionally, Larry has eight years' experience as a manager in private sector health care and in city government, and 18 years as president of the Johnson Training Group, a consulting and management firm. Larry holds the designation of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) from the National Speakers Association. This honor has been earned by fewer than 300 of 3500 members of NSA and indicates a track record of extremely successful speaking engagements with a large number of satisfied customers.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Larry was awarded the City of Phoenix Award of Excellence for designing and implementing that city's team based quality improvement program. This program was featured in a PBS televised documentary by Tom Peters (co-author of In Search of Excellence). Since 1986, Larry has presented to more than 1,800 audiences in every state in the Union, as well as in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
Details:
Time: 11:30, Thursday, May 24
Place: Reliant Center
Cost: $30 members; $35 guests
Presidential Insights: Why Associations? Why HSAE?
By Toy Wood, CAE
2007 President, HSAE
If you were at the April meeting, you heard part of this, so bear with me. This is the rest of the story. From time to time I hear members or should-be members question why they should be a part of HSAE. The questions have been answered countless times over the years in public and private meetings regarding the value of associating together. First, a little history about associations.
“No other country has an association sector as active and fully developed as the United States. Boasting more than 23,000 national associations at the opening of the 21st century, the United States has institutionalized an impulse that dates back thousands of years. In fact, recent studies of evolutionary psychology argue that the instinct for cooperation constituted an evolutionary advantage and is part of our genetic structure.” Principles of Association Management, Fourth Edition, Henry L. Ernstthal, CAE.
President Theodore Roosevelt stated, “Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.”
Associations date back to ancient Egypt and China. Ancient Roman trades were organized. In Western Europe, merchants and artisans formed guilds and in colonial America the spirit of cooperative effort of the farmers in their communities helped establish schools and churches and formed local governments – all evidence of the young country’s voluntary spirit. Throughout America’s history, trade associations, professional societies, and charitable organizations have grown and changed to meet the needs of their members. These volunteer members come together to work on a common cause, provide specific education for their industry, and protect and regulate their industry or profession. Associations are the largest provider of adult education services in the United States and contribute some $100 billion to the economy each year.
Bringing all of this home, your membership in HSAE is evidence of your commitment to the association industry and your professional development. Your dues and your participation support an education program and networking events that are unique. You have opportunities for yourself, your TEAM, and your colleagues that you otherwise would not have. So, remind those members who ask or those who should be members that HSAE is a special entity and a very good value. The more members we have, the more we can offer.
Coming in June
Get organized with the organization expert Denise Landers.
Then, in July
What was it like to be an association man serving in the state legislature? Rep. Jim Murphy (R-133), president of District Management Services, has been the staff leader of the Westchase District for the past 20 years. Rep. Murphy will tell us how the session went from his viewpoint as a new legislator. Reserve now to attend the July 27 luncheon at the Holiday Inn Crown Plaza.
In April:
At left, HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, greets Bob Hale, president of Houston Association of Realtors, who spoke at the April luncheon. Hale discussed the secrets to his longevity at HAR and touted the strengths of the association's website.
At right, Belle Rebiere of Techcess Group and former Houston Chronicle real estate editor Ralph Bivins chat with HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, prior to the luncheon.
Member News:
The Houston CPA Society under the leadership of former HSAE President Nancy Rutledge raised a record $292,475 at its 21st Charity Extravaganza, a Casino Night. The Society netted $241,343, enabling its members to present accounting scholarships to 54 students at eight universities and $52,100 for CPAs Helping Schools initiatives for grades K-12. The scholarships were awarded to students who demonstrated financial need, superior ethics, citizenship and high scholastic achievement. Some were selected by the universities and a few were reserved for the Society's student auxiliary members.
Use the HSAE Job Bank
Jobs posted on the HSAE website bring results. You may want to check the job bank frequently if you are in the market. A posting is $50 for members for one month of website exposure. Remember to use the HSAE job bank when you are looking for association staff. The job bank is a benefit of membership enabled by our website, donated by Schipul-The Web Marketing Company.
The New Recruit: How to Recruit Generations X and Y
By Sarah L. Sladek
In 2002, I was working as a director for the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce when I attended a national conference for chamber executives. At the general session in a room of 400 people, the speaker asked everyone under the age of 40 to stand up. I was one of about a dozen people who stood up. I was 29-years-old. The people sitting at my table – all over the age of 40 -- cracked a few jokes about my age and their associations’ aging board of directors. No one seemed to take the concept very seriously.
And why would they? There are enough Baby Boomers to lead for at least another decade, maybe even two.
Right?
Wrong.
In just three years 7.3 million Baby Boomers will retire, leaving a significant leadership gap in association membership nationwide. Most membership associations remain almost entirely governed and supported by the Boomer generation, and few have or are developing plans and strategies to cushion themselves from this massive exodus of dedicated volunteers.
Associations have not experienced anything like this before. Generations X (1965-1981) and Y (1982-1995) have completely different values, interests, needs, and wants from the generations before them. The way they communicate, their worldview, their priorities—everything about them is different as a result of their social experiences.
Therefore, Gen X and Y will not respond to the recruiting efforts of the past. An entirely new approach is required, which is why I refer to these generations the New Recruits.
How does your association make the shift from being Boomer-centric to focusing on the New Recruits? Using the first letters in the word ‘recruit’, I’ve spelled out these tactics for success:
Relationships
The strategy of building relationships with the New Recruits is imperative. These generations rely only on the people and organizations who take the time to earn their trust. Your association will successfully recruit and retain New Recruits when it becomes concerned about their needs and actively engages in developing programs and services especially for them.
Education
To the New Recruits, the opportunity to learn from an association is more important than any networking activity. Gen X aims to build a personal repertoire of skills and experience and Gen Y claims the largest number of business start-ups among college and high school students in history. Career seminars, mentoring programs, job postings, and career coaching are always a big hit with the New Recruits.
Community
The New Recruits are looking for ways to make a difference in their communities. Gen Y especially has a broad worldview and would prefer to join a membership association where a portion of their dues support a cause or their involvement opportunities include community service projects and volunteerism.
Recognition
The New Recruits want to know their participation is valued. Associations must find ways to empower them, reward their kind of thinking, and recognize them for their contributions. Recognize them at every opportunity and they will view a membership in your association as a significant personal and professional benefit.
Understanding
Contrary to popular belief, the New Recruits are not slackers. They are dedicated to their families while seeking opportunities to improve and expand their careers. But like it or not, Gen X and Y demand life balance. They don’t like obligations that intrude on their non-work hours as association life might often require. Associations that fail to understand this core value will inevitably turn younger generations away.
Independence
The New Recruits will disengage from those things they feel powerless to influence. They will not respond to hierarchy and will rebel against doing things the way they’ve always been done. Giving them the freedom to lead or the opportunity to organize their own initiatives under the association’s umbrella is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Technology
The best way for membership associations to reach the New Recruit is to utilize technology to provide access to career development and virtual networking opportunities 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of the most successful associations have built communities on-line via expanded Web offerings to interest and involve New Recruits.
The only succession plan a membership association has is the continuation of its membership. Yes, the Baby Boomer generation has sustained membership associations for quite some time. But that era is nearing an end, and it’s time to start thinking about the next generation of association executives, board members, and volunteers.
Bridging your association’s generation gap isn’t just the best option – it’s the only option.
Sarah L. Sladek is author of The New Recruit: What your association needs to know about X, Y & Z. She started researching the absence of younger generations in membership associations in 2002 and has given presentations and published articles on the topic nationwide. Sarah is the CEO of Limelight Associations, a national marketing communications company for membership associations. For more information, please visit www.thenewrecruit.org. Used with permission.
Mark Your Calendar
May 24: HSAE Luncheon, Larry Johnson, Leading with Integrity, Staff Appreciation, Reliant Center
June 28: HSAE Luncheon, Denise Landers, Learning to Swim in a Sea of Emails, TBD
July 27: HSAE Luncheon, State Rep. Jim Murphy (R-133) Recaps Legislative Session, Holiday Inn Crown Plaza (Downtown)
Aug. 12-14: ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, Chicago
2007 HSAE Officers
Toy Wood, CAE, President 281-970-8970 x 150 Executive Vice President and CEO of the Greater Houston Builders Association
Jo D. Miller, President-Elect
713-783-9225
Executive Director, Houston Chapter Institute of Real Estate Management
Jeff Tafel, CAE, Secretary
713-623-4362
Director of Allied Services, International Facility Management Association
Paula Ruth, APR, Treasurer
281-870-1717
Paula Ruth & Company Public Relations
Allison Kelley, CAE, Immediate Past President
832-717-5200
Romance Writers of America
This is an electronic newsletter of the Houston Society of Association Executives. To opt out of this newsletter, please email Aaron Long at along@schipul.com
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