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Rutledge to be Honored

noemail@hsae.org — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Rutledge will be honored, along with her husband Dick, for her 30 years of service to the Society as its executive director. The Houston CPA Society also will be celebrating its 80th year. The proceeds of this event go toward accounting scholarships (80%) and the rest go to CPAs Helping Schools. CPAs Helping Schools provides grants up to $3,000 for kindergarden through 12th grade public or private schools.

In addition to being a past president of HSAE in the 1980s, Nancy has also served on the board of directors for the Texas Society of Association Executives and is a member of American Society of Association Executives. She has been a mentor to many HSAE members as well as CPAs.

16-Dec-08 4:00 PM

HSAE Association Insight 30-Oct-07

noemail@hsae.org — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:09:14 GMT

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 Nov. 15.

Association Day: Nov. 2

Mingle with top associations and our sponsors during the premier event of the year. We will hear Jim McIngvale (Mattress Mack) on "How to Make Your Association Stand Out." As a successful businessman, community activist and philanthropist, Mack should be able to spot the top organizations in town. His marketing insight is legendary as he parlayed $5,000 and a "dream" into a furniture operation that now generates $200 million in sales per year.

Sponsors for this event include Avectra, Benefit Concepts, Inc., Hobby Center, Hilton Houston Post Oak, Inn at the Ballpark, Loren R. Cook & Associates, Omni Houston Hotel, Principal Financial Group, SMG-Reliant Park, Schipul-The Web Marketing Company, and Social Solutions.

DETAILS:

Time: 11 a.m. trade show and networking; noon-1 p.m. lunch and presentation

Date: Friday, November 2

Place: Sam Houston Race Park Paddock Room, 7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway West

Cost: Members, $30; Guests $35; parking is free.

Register: Click here or contact Julie George at jgeorge@absoluteplanning.com

Find Talent at www.hsae.org

Looking for new people? Consider advertising on the Houston Society of Association Executives website donated by Schipul-The Web Marketing Company. For $50, you get one month of exposure.

Member News:

The Houston Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), led by former HSAE President Tammy Betancourt, CAE, and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), Houston Chapter, led by Jo D. Miller, HSAE president-elect, donated $85,000 to Harris County Protective Services (HCPS) on Oct. 29. This donation was the proceeds of a joint BOMA and IREM's 22nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament which attracted over 450 golfers, sponsors and volunteers. The funds will help HCPS in serving local children who have been removed from their home.

The Houston CPA Society under former HSAE president Nancy Rutledge, held its 18th annual Golf Classic to benefit Make-A-Wish of the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana on Oct. 29. Final proceeds are being determined at presstime but the costs of the tournament were underwritten by the Sam & Ada Petro Foundation this year, so that all the sponsor and player proceeds will go to the charity. Houston Astro Woody Williams, along with sports broadcaster Craig Roberts of KTBU Sports OffCenter and 790 The Sports Animal, were celebrity hosts along with Wish Child Michael Allen. Miss Texas U.S.A. and Miss Houston U.S.A. also participated in the silent auction following the tournament. KTBU-Channel 55 was the media sponsor of the event.

Loren R. Cook & Associates will be a title sponsor of Wonderland in Westchase, along with Amegy Bank and First Methodist Houston. This event, organized by First Methodist Houston, Quillian Recreation Center, Houston West Chamber of Commerce and Westchase District, drew 7000 people last year and will be held Dec. 13, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Houston Chronicle is the print media sponsor. The event will be featured on Fox 26's Hola! Houston this Saturday, at 6:30 a.m.

The Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter, with Paula Ruth, APR, as administrator, will host Gillian Smith of Teach for America at its Nov. 7 monthly luncheon at the Courtyard on St. James Place. Smith will discuss the nonprofit's outstanding marketing strategies. In October, PRSA Houston hosted Harry Rhulen, CEO of Firestorm, a risk-assessment firm brought in to counsel Virginia Tech AFTER the April disaster. Rhulen's presentation on preparing for the unexpected struck chills in the hearts of the audience.

The Greater Houston Builders Association, under the leadership of HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, recently released the results of its first annual Houston Home Builder Compensation Survey. This survey will help builders hire for available positions and reduce the unexpected loss of valued employees. GHBA is selling its survey to members for $500.

Election Results

The results are in and all candidates have been elected. They are Jo D. Miller, executive director of Insitute of Real Estate Management, president; Jeff Tafel, CAE, director of councils for International Facilities Management Association, president-elect; Lori Carper, director of meetings and international council for Houston Association of Realtors, treasurer; and Paula Ruth, APR, principal in Paula Ruth & Commpany Public Relations and chapter administrator for Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter, secretary.

Elected as two -year directors are Vicky Aranda, principal, Association Network; Mary Parkhouse, CAE, director of information technology for Houston Apartment Association, and Nicole Kennedy, public relations manager for Romance Writers of America. Returning one-year directors are Julie George, assistant to the executive, Loren R. Cook & Associates, Phil Kunetka, director of government affairs for Houston Electrical Contractors and Andy Teas, CAE, vice president of public affairs, Houston Apartment Association.

Mark Your Calendar

Nov. 2: HSAE Association Day, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sam Houston Racepark.
Nov. 14: Power Tools or Nonprofits, Keynote Speaker Robert W. Fuller, "Somebodies and nobodies: the Politics of Dignity," 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Reliant Center. Register by Nov. 1 to pay $49. After that or at the door $60.

Nov. 16: HSAE Planning Meeting for 2008, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Institute of Real Estate Management

December: Holiday Luncheon TBD

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

If you wish to be removed from this email list, please contact Aaron Long at along@schipul.com.

1-Nov-07 2:09 PM

HSAE Association Insight 24-Sep- 07

noemail@hsae.org — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:15:00 GMT

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 Oct. 15.

HSAE Lunch & Learn Seminar

How do associations attract and keep younger members? How can you keep up to date with technology on an association budget? How can you create a magical event for your group? Find out when Tammy Betancourt, CAE, Judy Scott and Clare Jackson lead our next lunch and learn on Thursday, September 27, at the Houston Association of Realtors Board Room, 3693 Southwest Freeway.

Tammy Betancourt, CAE, executive director of Houston Building Owners and Managers Association and a past president of HSAE, will lead us in a discussion of how to attract the younger members. Judy Scott, Romance Writers of America, will show us how to determine what is needed in technology, examine e-marketing and bring us up to date on trends. Clare Jackson, owner of the Sullivan Group, will tell us how to turn a special event into an experience to be remembered. Clare is a member of the Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter and a board member of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitor's Bureau. The Sullivan Group has previously planned three successful Excalibur Awards events for PRSA Houston.

DETAILS:

Time: Registration at 9:30; Program 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 27,

Place: HAR Boardroom, 3693 Southwest Freeway (77027)

Cost: Members, $30; Guests $35

Note: This is worth 3 hours of continuing education.

Letter from the President

Toy Wood, CAE,

2007 HSAE president

Greetings HSAE members. I just returned from my annual Executive Officer Seminar. I love this seminar because it is crammed full of great information and there is plenty of time for sharing with other association managers. One of our keynote speakers was a futurist with Social Technologies, Dr. Bill Croasmun. His presentation was tailored for the homebuilding industry and related associations, but some of the assumptions and forecasts could apply to many associations.

For instance, how the immigration challenge is resolved will have an impact on many industries and our society in general, thus certainly our associations. What are we doing to prepare ourselves for real multiculturalism? In Houston, it is already here.

Multigenerational challenges mean wonderful new ideas and energy in associations, but it also means change with which baby boomers may not be comfortable. Is your association structure and programming addressing those needs?

In some industries, consolidations mean fewer members. Will your revenue fall off? Will you need to restructure your dues? Look for more non dues revenue?

Competition for the services that you provide may become even tougher, and could be cheaper from for-profit companies. Staying on top of your game and exceeding expectations will be critical.

New trends may cause major shifts in resources, such as greenbuilding in the homebuilding industry. Associations must anticipate, research, and stay ahead of the curve. We must become the primary source of information for our members or we will become irrelevant or obsolete.

That is why organizations like HSAE are so important. Our meetings, education, and sharing with one another help keep us on top of our game. According to Dr. Croasmun, associations are still one of the most important sources of education, advocacy and information in this country. Let’s keep it that way.

Member News:

National Association of Home Builders has awarded Best New Executive Officer to HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, Greater Houston Builders Association. She will also be honored on Oct. 19 at the Intercontinental Hotel as one of Houston's 10 Women on the Move by Texas Executive Women and The Houston Chronicle.

Former HSAE President Jay Hagins, CAE, has been helping to rebrand the Houston Advertising Federation as American Advertising Federation Houston. The organization recently had its last meeting as HAF.

HSAE board members turned out Sunday night to work in conjunction with the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau in welcoming TSAE to The Woodlands. Phil Kunetka, Independent Electrical Contractors, coordinated the event, and Lori Carper, HAR, and Allison Kelley, CAE, Romance Writers of America, helped with matching shirts. In addition to these three, Andy Teas, CAE, Houston Apartment Association, Paula Ruth, APR, Paula Ruth and Company Public Relations, and Jay Hagins, CAE, American Advertising Federation Houston were on hand to meet and greet.

In July

The Hon. Dr. John Zerwas, (R-28) and chief medical officer of Memorial Hermann Health Care System, spoke to us about being a doctor and serving in the House of Representatives where healthcare spending is a hot issue.

At right, two past HSAE presidents: Linda Beverly, CAE, International Facility Managers Association, and Cara Johnson, CAE, Houston Apartment Association reunite at lunch.

(At left) President Toy Wood, CAE, Greater Houston Builders Association introduces Dr. Zerwas.

Dr.

On the right, Dr. Zerwas with HSAE President-Elect Jo D. Miller, Institute of Real Estate Management, and former HSAE President Russell Hamley, CAE, Associated Builders and Contractors.

Thank you to Mark Hiebert, Hiebert Photography, for taking these photos.

Associations Are a Great Way to Stand Out

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal brought to the editor’s attention by board member Andy Teas, CAE, Houston Apartment Association, affirms what HSAE members already know- organizations and associations are ways to make yourself known to others in your industry and to better market yourself and your skills to prospective employers and partners.

The August 14, 2007 article points out how recruiters often use association job banks, search membership directories, and attend meetings, trade shows and luncheons to look for the right job candidate. Nancy Grossman, a recruiter, notes that increased involvement in associations allows members to “become more visible to recruiters and shows you are committed to staying on the cutting edge of your field."

Active participation in an organization, such as serving on the board or working on a committee, can allow you to work closely with group leaders on projects and gain recognition and a way to hone and display your abilities. Another perk for association members is a network of professionals who can provide valuable advice and job referrals.

To read the entire article http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118704955586296589.html

Election Time

It is time for the Houston Society of Association Executives to elect new leaders.

A committee of your peers has considered candidates for leadership positions on the HSAE Board of Directors for 2008 and is pleased to present the following nominations for Officers and Two-Year Directors. Returning One-Year Directors are listed for your information and convenience. Please view 2008 Officer Ballot.

Association News: IFMA to offer classes in China

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is pleased to announce that it will begin holding facility management educational courses in China this month. The announcement follows formal recognition of IFMA earlier this year by the Chinese government’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security, which acknowledged facility management as a distinct discipline and career pursuit. To view the press release from IFMA click here.

Mark Your Calendar

Sept. 27: HSAE Lunch and Learn, HAR Board Room, 3693 Southwest Freeway, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 25: HSAE Evening Social, Winetasting, 5:30 p.m., Uptown Park Tasting Room
Nov. 14: Power Tools or Nonprofits, Keynote Speaker Robert W. Fuller, "Somebodies and nobodies: the Politics of Dignity," 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Reliant Center

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

If you wish to be removed from this email list, please contact Aaron Long at along@schipul.com.

25-Sep-07 4:15 PM

HSAE Association Insight 19-Jul-07

noemail@hsae.org — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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 by Aug. 22.

Tales from Austin: Is there a doctor in the House?

What happens when a physician goes to Austin? Find out July 27 when Dr. John Zerwas speaks to HSAE on Friday, July 27, at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Downtown.

Dr. John Zerwas completed his first term representing the 28^th District in the Texas House of Representatives. An active family-oriented conservative, Rep. John Zerwas has been a physician for over 20 years. He is the chief medical officer of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston. Rep. Zerwas is the only physician currently serving in the House of Representatives at a time when Health & Human Services spending makes up roughly 40% of the Texas budget and is the fastest-growing area of state spending.

Dr. Zerwas and his wife, Cindy, are 1973 graduates of Bellaire High School and were married in 1978. They have four children, John, Joseph, Brandon, Sherry, and son-in-law Matthew.

A legislative conference in Philadelphia caused Rep. Jim Murphy to reschedule his talk. However, he graciously asked fellow freshman legislator Dr. Zerwas to fill in and we are pleased to say the Dr. Zerwas agreed.

DETAILS:

Time: 11:30-1 p.m., Friday, July 27,

Place:Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Downtown, 1700 Smith (Whitehall Room)

Cost: Members, $30; Guests $35

Member News:

Texas Executive Women finally agreed with us that HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, Greater Houston Builders Association, is a Woman on the Move indeed. She will be honored on Oct. 19 at the Intercontinental Hotel. (Thanks to former president Jay Hagins, CAE, of Houston Ad Federation for spotting this and sending it in.)

In June

Board member Lori Carper, Houston Association of Realtors, chats with Denise Landers, who spoke to us about email organization.

At right, new member Rebekah Rosburg, Sheraton, Laurie Scheik, Sheraton North, and Emmie Thomas, Association Network, prepare for lunch at Cafe Adobe.

(At left) Annalissa Minettie, Hobby Center, chats with former president HSAE president Tammy Betancourt, CAE, Houston Building Owners & Managers Association.

How I Survived a Year on a Committee!

By Eric Westover and Bob Harris, CAE

Every organization has them --- standing committees and task forces. Committees are a way to involve volunteers, benefit from their input, advance efforts and identify new leaders.

Last year I cringed when I was asked to serve on a committee. Before I said “yes,” I was determined to learn how to be a good committee member. You see I’ve served on committees that wasted my time, had no clear purpose and succumbed to egos and politics.

Now that my year of service has ended I can say, “I survived a year on a committee!” Let me share how I approached my committee work:

Committee Survival Tips (10)

Purpose – My first question was “What’s the purpose of the committee?” I wanted to ensure a good reason existed for our committee. (I’m in favor of eliminating or merging unnecessary committees.)

Charges – Now that I knew its purpose, I wanted to be sure the committee had received a clear work assignment. What did the incoming board chair communicate to the committee’s chair about expectations and outcomes? The clearer the charge --- the more likely our success.

History – I knew our standing committee was not new to the organization. So I asked the committee chairman about last year’s records. I wanted to know what had been accomplished and what work was pending. The staff gave us the prior “committee notebook.” It explained rationales and helped us avoid redundant discussions. We made a commitment to help future committees by taking good notes and keeping all of our drafts and minutes in a similar notebook.

Performance Measures – At our first meeting I asked how we would measure performance. I suggested we include accountability (who, when) and quantifiability (how many, how much) to gauge progress during our term. Everyone agreed and we achieved all of our aims within the year.

Linkage – Committees usually serve at the pleasure of the board. Thus, we asked how we would be expected to keep the board informed of our ideas and progress. Did they expect written reports? Would a board liaison attend our meetings? Would a staff member be assigned to our committee? We respected protocol by asking questions at the onset and viewing the organizational chart that showed hierarchy and information flow.

Vice Chair – We were told our committee had a chairman and he would schedule meetings, set agendas, etc. He inadvertently missed our second meeting and we sat there with no leadership, nearly wasting three hours (multiplied by 12 persons). We suggested that the chairman appoint a vice chair that would serve as a backup and could be a potential future committee leader.

Timeline – We set a schedule for the year. How often would we meet in person and by phone? What mid-year goals did we need to accomplish to stay on schedule? We developed a committee calendar and stuck to it.

Alignment – I knew a committee could not operate in a vacuum. We were part of a larger structure that included other committees, policies, a mission statement and probably a strategic plan. We asked for a copy of the strategic plan to ensure that our work fit inside the long-term goals. The mission statement was a reminder to stay on task; we read the mission at every meeting and included it on the bottom of the agenda.

Meeting Agendas– We promised that meetings would not waste our time. To that end, the chairman suggested distributing our agenda 14 days before meetings. It helped me prepare, anticipate discussions, and reminded me of items I had offered to do but had forgotten.

Minutes and a Final Report – We agreed to keep meeting minutes and distribute them promptly. This served as a reminder of our plans and progress. The staff appreciated receiving the minutes and shared them with the board chair to keep him apprised. At the end of the year, we assembled all the agendas, minutes and supporting documents to create a committee notebook for next year’s group.

Not all committee experiences are so positive. Use these tips to educate your committees.

About the Authors: Bob Harris, CAE, is chairman of the NonProfitCenter.com (bob@rchcae.com). Eric Westover is chairman of the UpperEx National Outreach Coalition serving arm amputees (eric@UppperEx.org) Used by permission.

Mark Your Calendar

Aug. 12-14: ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, Chicago

Aug. 30: HSAE Monthly Meeting, Canyon Cafe

Sept. 23-25: TSAE Annual Conference, Mariott Woodlands Waterway Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands

Nov. 14: Power Tools or Nonprofits, Keynote Speaker Robert W. Fuller, "Somebodies and nobodies: the Politics of Dignity," 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Reliant Center

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

If you wish to be removed, please contact Aaron Long at along@schipul.com.

19-Jul-07 8:00 PM

HSAE Association Insight 26-June-07

noemail@hsae.org — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Hello [firstname],

June Luncheon: How to Swim in a Sea of Emails

How often do you zero out your email inbox? Is your inbox really a combination calendar, address book, task list, and file cabinet? Are you sending out effective messages? The flood of daily messages is drowning some of us. In the past week alone, this editor processed 800 emails/day.

Our June speaker, Denise Landers, is the author of Destination: Organization and The Productivity Series. She is the owner of Key Organization Systems, Inc. As a productivity specialist with a Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Services from Boston University, she has spent years speaking, training, consulting and coaching on the topics of time management and effective work flow, helping companies and individuals create systems for coping with the daily challenges of too much to do in too little time.

We can expect to learn how to

Make a decision on every incoming message.
Create effective outgoing mail.
Identify common reading problems.
Learn speed-reading techniques to help you keep up.

But will she tell us how to avoid a message that says "Your .pst file is full. Please immediately save all your emails to a hard drive or you may not receive any more emails"?

Details:

Time: 11:30, Thursday, June 28

Place: Cafe Adobe, 2111 Westheimer

Cost: $30 members; $35 guests

Presidential Insights: Seek Balance!

By Toy Wood, CAE
2007 President, HSAE

Is your career your cause? We all need balance in our lives, but how many times have you heard that you should love what your do and do what you love. The older I get, the truer it is. And I think for those of us in the association business it can be particularly true.

Many times our organizations embody a worthy cause. Often it may be very apparent, such as the American Diabetes Association or Alzheimers Association. Sometimes it is not so obvious, but even the Houston Apartment Association and the Romance Writers of America have an underlying “cause.”

We spend a lot of time out there working so we better believe in what we are doing. But back to that balance thing. Take your vacation! I guarantee you will be more productive and creative if you do, not to mention mentally and physically healthier. Wow, we are a bunch of workaholics who think the place will fall apart if we are gone. Not true. Take care of yourself. Take care of your family, your loved ones and friends, and you will do a better job of taking care of your job.

Have some fun and don’t forget to have fun with your HSAE buddies! Getting out with you guys is real R&R for me. Thanks for letting me be a part of this special group.

Coming 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 May:

At left Anna Farris, Associated Builders and Contractors, Adam Aschmann, Greater Houston Builders Association, HSAE board member Andy Teas, CAE, Houston Apartment Association, and board member Phil Kunetka, Independent Electrical Contractors chat before the Hawaiian luau lunch.

Board member Julie George, Loren Cook & Associates, got into the spirit of the day to greet guests.

Luncheon Speaker Larry Johnson and HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, chat before the Hawaiian-themed May event at Reliant Park.

Member News:

PRSA Houston, assisted by Paula Ruth, APR, Paula Ruth & Company Public Relations, staged its annual Excalibur Awards event on June 21 with about 247 attending the gala and silent auction at the Westin Galleria Ballroom. The auction raised money for the Public Relations Foundation of Houston which presented its third scholarship this year. The 400-member PRSA Houston will feature a workshop and luncheon on social media, July 11. The speaker will be Josh Hallet, internationally recognized expert on the use of Web and Internet-based technologies for business communication. Reaching young people these days often means using blogs and such websites as MySpace. This workshop will tell you how. For more information, visit www.prsahouston.org .

Mark Your Calendar

June 28: HSAE Luncheon, Denise Landers, Learning to Swim in a Sea of Emails, Cafe Adobe, 2111 Westheimer

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

Sept. 23-25: TSAE Annual Conference, Mariott Woodlands Waterway Hotel and Convention Center, The Woodlands

Nov. 14: Power Tools or Nonprofits, Keynote Speaker Robert W. Fuller, "Somebodies and nobodies: the Politics of Dignity," 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Reliant Center

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

Jobs for 26-May-07 to 25-Jun-07

Director of Special Events --new

Company: Greater Houston Builders Association

Date Activated: Tue 19-Jun-07 3:00 PM

Large friendly trade association needs outgoing, organized event planner. Full time position creating and implementing special events... [More Info]
Posted by: Kathryn A. Wood, CAE

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

Stay up to date with our RSS feeds.

28-Jun-07 9:00 PM

HSAE Association Insight 23-May-07

noemail@hsae.org — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:21:40 GMT

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

Number 1 ranked seminar leader at the Inc. Magazine National Customer Service Conference
#1 ranked speaker at the Inc. Magazine Workforce Conference
A featured speaker at eight annual conferences of the International Customer Service Association
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

Register: Online registration is closed, so please email Julie George at jgeorge@absoluteplanning.com to see whether space is available.

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

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

23-May-07 11:21 AM

HSAE Association Insight 26-Apr-07

noemail@hsae.org — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:00:00 GMT

Hello [firstname],

The Recipe for Successful Associations? Find out at the April Luncheon this Friday

Bob Hale, president and chief executive officer of Houston Association of Realtors, will tell us his recipe for successful association management. Hale has led Houston Association of Realtors for the past 18 years as it grew to be the second largest Realtor organization in the country with 25,000 members.

He was recognized by Inman News as one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate People in 2005 and 2006. Inman News stated: "People on the list embody words like leadership, innovation, ingenuity, power and persistence." He also earned recognition from the NAR publication Realtor® Magazine, as one of the 25 most influential individuals in the American real estate industry in 2003.

According to Realtor® Magazine, "Hale is widely regarded as a visionary and a leader who puts his members' business needs first. If Hale were a politician, what a record he'd have to run on: In the past six years, he's made www.har.com the premier Web portal for Houston real estate with 200 million hits per month, offered free Web sites to every member, revamped HAR's governance structure to ensure a more representative board, increased HAR's member base by 7,200 through mergers with three suburban boards, and lowered local association dues five years running. Bob served as chairman of the Texas Society of Association Executives from 1997-1998, and as president of the Houston Society of Association Executives in 1993.

Details:

Time: 11:30, Friday, April 27

Place: Westin Galleria (5060 W. Alabama), 24th floor, Regal Suite

Cost: $30 members; $35 guests

Register: Online registration is closed, so please email Julie George at jgeorge@absoluteplanning.com to see whether space is available.

Presidential Insights

By Toy Wood, CAE
2007 President, HSAE

Greetings fellow association managers and industry partners!

Another month and more crazy weather! If you missed the March meeting you missed a great presentation from Troy Elmore about making our associations essential to our members. On that note, sometime in the not-too-distant future you will be asked to participate in a short survey for HSAE. Please DO IT! We cannot serve your needs if we don’t know what they are.

I have just started reading the much talked about book Seven Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don’t. I imagine many of you have already read it and know that one of the keys is gathering and using data. We are a relatively small group but we should act and function like we are the biggest and best in town. We can only do that if we all pull together. Many members have stepped up to help with membership and strategic planning. What is your interest? Where would you like to help? Let us know. My email address is twood@ghba.org. Feel free to send your thoughts.

Have ideas for speakers or places to meet? Let us know that, too. All input is welcome. Now don’t miss the April meeting with Bob Hale. And bring your peers. They will thank you for it.

Coming in May!

Larry Johnson, business author, speaker and consultant will present Leading with Integrity. Johnson has been head of his own training and consulting firm, Johnson Training Group, for 18 years and has spoken nationwide and worldwide to over 150,000 businesses and associations. The May luncheon will also be our Staff Appreciation event.

Respond to the Survey

The Strategic Planning and Membership Committees will be sponsoring a survey in the near future to gain member input. This is the first step in a formal strategic planning process. Contact Jeff Tafel, CAE, for more information or to participate in the planning process at jeff.tafel@ifma.org .

In March:

HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, Greater Houston
Builders Association, welcomes March speaker Troy Elmore, who presented on how to sell associations to board members, leadership and others.

At right, former HSAE President Russell Hamley, CAE, Associated Builders and Contractors speaks with Jennifer Lindsay, board member, Reliant Center.

At left, Elaine Overgaard, Houston Hilton Post Oak, listens to opening remarks while Margery Reinheardt, Houston HIlton Post Oak, speaks with former HSAE president Ralston Creswell, CAE, American Diabetes Association.

Vance Johnson, Principal Financial Group, speaks with Vicky Aranda, Association Network, while immediate past president Allison Kelley, CAE, Romance Writers of America, works registration as Julie George, Loren Cook & Associates, takes an urgent call.

Member News:

We are sorry to report that the husband of former HSAE president Linda Beverly was the supervisor who lost his life in Friday's incident at NASA. Linda is vice president for the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) and a friend to many of us. The Beverlys were married for 41 years and enjoyed working on their Galveston Bay home and motorcycling together.

David's funeral will be Thursday, April 26 at 3 p.m. at Bay Area First Baptist Church (4800 West Main St., League City). Linda has asked that friends make donations in David Beverly's name to the IFMA Foundation. This can be done online (www.ifma.org) or by mail. Cards and donations can be sent to Linda Beverly at the IFMA office at 1 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100, Houston, TX 77046.

Use the HSAE Job Bank

Tell the Truth: It Beats Dishonesty Every Time

by Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson is a well-known business author, speaker and consultant who will be the keynote speaker at our meeting on May 24. His latest book is Absolute Honesty: Building A Corporate Culture That Values Straight Talk and Reward Integrity. Larry and his daughter, Gen-Expert Meagan Johnson can be reached at 800-759-4933 or http://www.johnsontraininggroup.com .

When Congressional intern Chandra Levy disappeared in the spring of 2001, Congressman Gary Condit at first refused to discuss the case. When he eventually talked, he claimed that his relationship with the young political intern had been strictly platonic. Of course, as anyone who
followed the news now knows, Condit was lying. Not surprisingly, once his deceit was exposed, everything he said about Levy’s disappearance came under close scrutiny. Despite the fact that he had an airtight alibi on the day of Levy’s disappearance and was NOT considered a suspect,
his dishonesty generated mistrust and a desire on the part of many to see him punished. And punish him they did: His constituents overwhelmingly rejected his bid for reelection, leaving no doubts about their opinions of his veracity.

As our parents and teachers told us, the worst truth is always better than the best lie. That doesn’t mean that telling the truth is easy or won’t have negative consequences. It simply means that, when faced with a choice of telling the truth, postponing its telling, or lying, telling the truth is the best choice. Here are three reasons:

You Create Trust
Several years ago, I bought a used sports utility vehicle. One morning it started making horrible grinding noises while it lurched and shuddered down the street. I was able to drive it as far as a local garage where I expected to pay thousands for what I worried might be a blown front-end
differential. To make matters worse, I feared being gouged because I had never used this garage or mechanic before. That afternoon the mechanic called with the good news: A bolt had fallen out of the brake caliper and was jammed between the brake pad and the rotor. Total cost: $50.

I now take all of my auto business to this mechanic, including warranty work on my new car. That’s right! I PAY this fellow for work I could have had done for FREE at the dealership simply because I trust him completely. Such is the nature of trust.

Social-psychological research has shown that people are most likely to trust a person when they are in a vulnerable position and the person chooses to treat them truthfully and honorably. For leaders, the lesson is obvious: If you are always straight with people, they will learn to trust you.

You Pay a Higher Price for Lying
History is full of political examples of this axiom. It was both stupid and wrong of Richard Nixon to approve illegal break-ins into the offices of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist and the Democratic Party at the Watergate Hotel. Given his overwhelming popularity in the polls, however, it probably would not have undermined his presidency if he had admitted his
complicity when the burglars were first caught. Instead, his lying about having no knowledge of the events, combined with his willingness to sacrifice the people he’d ordered to commit illegal acts, turned public opinion against him and eventually forced his resignation. Almost every
political commentator and pundit of the time said that had Nixon admitted his sins and “taken his medicine like a man,” the nation would have forgiven him and moved on. Bill Clinton discovered a similar backlash when he looked into the camera and told us he did not have sex with Monica Lewinski. He survived impeachment, but his legacy as the president who oversaw the greatest economic boom in this country’s history is tainted by the perception that he was a liar and philanderer.

Faced with embarrassing failures, leaders who choose honesty limit the damage to themselves and their organizations. In the spring of 2002 the media reported that a multistate crime ring had rigged McDonald's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" game. McDonald's responded with extraordinary quickness. Its president immediately admitted that there had been a fraud, made a public apology, and initiated a new game. According to Chris Ryan, who heads Ryan and Associates, a Phoenix-based crisis management firm, McDonald’s minimized the damage from
the fraud because:

“They were not playing a waiting game. You cannot get into that corporate mentality where you run it up and down the flagpole twenty times. From what I saw, McDonald's moved very quickly, and the public was willing to forgive them quickly. And if you think about it, it wasn't in the news very long. They dealt with it and moved on.”ⁱ

Whatever your religious or cultural background, you were probably raised with a list of rights and wrongs firmly planted in your head. “It’s right to be trustworthy, it’s wrong to cheat. It’s right to pay your own way; it’s wrong to steal. It’s right to be faithful to your spouse; it’s wrong to mess around. It’s right to be nonviolent; it’s wrong to hurt others.” Included in this list
for most of us is, “It’s right to tell the truth; it’s wrong to lie.” Not that any of us have never lied. It’s just that most of us consider it wrong to do so, and therefore we often judge harshly those who do. Those who lie to us, especially if they are in positions of leadership, risk their standings as trustworthy leaders. The nicknames “Tricky Dick” and “Slick Willy” say it all.

Tell the Truth: You Keep Things Simple
Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” If you always tell the truth, you never have to conjure up excuses or backpedal on your explanations about why your company didn’t make its numbers. You never have to create stories about what
you promised or didn’t promise a potential tenant. Best of all, you never have to remember both the lie and the truth because you know that whatever you said, it will always match the way things really happened.

Telling the truth also helps to control the level of dysfunctional family dynamics that occur in every organization. If you grew up in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s and watched any television at all, you will remember the I Love Lucy show. The essential plot of every episode
revolved around Lucy pulling the wool over her husband Ricky’s eyes to get something she wanted, or Ricky fooling Lucy to get something he wanted. Neighbors Fred and Ethel usually helped out in the deception. In one classic scam, Lucy wanted to get into show business so she
faked a nervous breakdown to convince Ricky that denying her a part in his nightclub act was driving her crazy. It was amusing to watch, but it was also sad. Call me a curmudgeon, but in real life, such shenanigans can seriously damage the trust level in any relationship.

Rosemary, an acquaintance, told me this story. Rosemary’s eight-year-old son desperately wanted a dog, and Rosemary wanted to get one for him; she had had a dog as a child and loved it. Rosemary’s husband, Sam, hated dogs, and immediately put his foot down, saying there would be no dog and no further discussion on the matter. After several arguments, they dropped the issue. On Christmas morning, without Sam’s consent, Rosemary gave their son a dog as a “gift from Mom and Dad.” Under the circumstances, Sam couldn’t say much without coming across as Ebenezer Scrooge, but “open and honest” communication was never practiced again in that household.

You may or may not find Rosemary’s dishonesty in this situation as distasteful as I did—I hope you do. After all, what kind of marriage can be truly healthy when such deceptive manipulation is standard practice between spouses?

Of course, there are two sides to every story. When I asked Rosemary why she pulled this trick, she said that Sam was often selfish and dictatorial. Taking the “indirect” (or deceitful) approach was the only way she could exert any power in the relationship. On the other hand, when I asked
Sam about his relationship with Rosemary, he said that he loved her but she couldn’t be trusted with money or practical matters. Therefore, his strategy was to just say “no” to everything. Was this relationship ever built on truth or honesty? We think not.

By the way, they kept the dog but divorced two years later.

In business, this kind of dysfunctional game playing can cause enormous losses of productivity and profitability. Here are some examples:

If you are a meeting planner who needs to know when a meeting room will be available, you must be able to trust that what the booking agent tells you is true.

If you manage an employee who is not performing to expectations, but you don’t have the courage to give her feedback, she will never improve because she believes she’s doing okay. When you finally decide to dismiss her, you’ll find yourself in court trying to explain why you
were never honest with her about her performance.

If you are a manager who fails to listen to people’s concerns about their budgets being too tight to meet project goals, and you blindly insist they perform under threat of dismissal, you can expect them to make you think they’re progressing satisfactorily when they are not. If, as a manager, you play favorites with your subordinates, basing that favoritism on whom you like, rather than on who produces, you can expect that people are going to lie and present false faces to you so you will like them rather than judge them on the results of their work. They may even get Fred and Ethel to help out.

Each example reeks of wasted effort. To remain a viable entity, an organization must apply as much time, energy, and person-power as possible to the business it conducts. It must spend the majority of its resources producing and selling products or services. It must also spend a large chunk of those resources maintaining a healthy environment where the producing and selling can take place. It can ill afford to have its people waste time and energy playing destructive politics, protecting rear ends, defending turf, and working around dysfunctional relationships.

This article is an excerpt from Larry’s book, Absolute Honesty: Building A Corporate Culture That Values Straight Talk And Rewards Integrity, AMACOM Books, NY, NY, 2003. Used with permission of the publisher.

Notes

ⁱLou Carlozo, “Masters of Disaster,” Chicago Tribune, 29 January 2002

Mark Your Calendar

April 27: HSAE Luncheon, Bob Hale, Association Management Success, Westin Galleria

May 24: HSAE Luncheon, Larry Johnson, Leading with Integrity, Staff Appreciation

June 28: HSAE Luncheon, Denise Landers, Learning to Swim in a Sea of Emails

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

26-Apr-07 11:00 AM

HSAE Association Insight 27-Mar-07

noemail@hsae.org — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:00:00 GMT

Hello [firstname],

How to Sell to Associations? Find out at March Luncheon this Friday

How do we master selling to a board of different personalities, changing leadership and direction? Associations will want to attend to find out how to create sponsorship relationships and other deals that will fly. Come hear what a master of salesmanship, Troy Elmore, thinks we should do since every single one of us is in sales.

Elmore has 13 years of sales and sales consulting experience. He has trained thousands of salespeople and has spoken for many national associations including Greater Houston Builders Association, National Pest Management Association, Vistage, American Institute of Architects, Greater Houston Partnership, and many others.

Troy is a graduate of the University of Houston in their Executive MBA Program. He also received an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. With this experience Troy can help companies reach their goals through practical, proven, and experienced-based methodologies.

Details:

Time: 11:30, Friday, March 30

Place: Maggiano's Little Italy (Post Oak Blvd.)

Cost: $30 members; $35 guests

Register: Online registration is closed, so please email Julie George at jgeorge@absoluteplanning.com to see whether space is available.

Presidential Insights

By Toy Wood, CAE
2007 President, HSAE

Greetings HSAE Members!

We are off to a great start. Our January and February meetings were excellent, and the March meeting promises to be a real winner for us all. Many of us know and love Troy Elmore and his message is important for each of us – How to Sell our Associations.

The committees working on membership and strategic planning are meeting. Expect your HSAE to grow and become better organized and focused this year. We expect you to be involved. Ask your colleagues to attend. Get your staff involved. The luncheons are wonderful opportunities for team development. Volunteer to work on the bylaws. Or membership. Whatever interests you, let us know.

Also, let me encourage you to enter your association or organization in awards programs. I know that ASAE has awards calls going on right now. Our national association does, too. You cannot win if you don’t enter. For a long time we did not enter because it was just too time consuming, or so we thought. But then, when we won an award – wow, did we change our minds! This year we will enter every category possible. Winning is good for your association – for your board. And just going through the exercise is good for your TEAM. It helps you really look at what you are doing – quantify the services you are offering. It forces you to keep track and be organized. So get out there and win, win, win. It is great to hang those goodies on the walls!

Coming in April!
Bob Hale, president and chief executive officer of Houston Association of Realtors, will tell us his recipe for successful association management. Hale has led Houston Association of Realtors for the past 18 years as it grew to be the second largest Realtor organization in the country with 25,000 members. The luncheon will be April 27 at the Westin Galleria, 5060 West Alabama.

Reminder: 2007 Dues are Past Due

Please send them in to remain a member in good standing and to help HSAE continue to put on outstanding programs. If you have not paid, it is time to renew! Contact Vicky Aranda at hsae@theassociationnetwork.com if you did not receive an invoice or you wish to become a member.

In February:

HSAE President Toy Wood, CAE, Greater Houston Builders Association, greets February speaker Charlotte Stallings, president and CEO of Getting Smart, who presented a lively presentation about financial planning to the membership.

At right, Jane Pierce, Omni Westside (host), Nicole Uyematsu, Sheraton Brookhollow and Thelma McCarther of the Omni Westside (host) chat before the luncheon.

Mark Smith, Sam Houston Racetrack, talks with former HSAE President and TSAE board member Jay Hagins, CAE, Houston Advertising Federation.

Member News:

The Houston Apartment Association, led by former HSAE president Jeff Hall, CAE, will host its annual conference and expo with more than 250 exhibitors on Thursday, March 29, at Reliant Center Hall B. Keynote registration begins at 10:30 a.m. The show closes at 7 p.m. For more information, go online at www.haaonline.org.

The Houston CPA Society, under the leadership of former HSAE president Nancy Rutledge, recently presented $156,000 to Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana as the net proceeds of the 17th annual Golf Classic and auction.

The Public Relations Society of America, under HSAE Treasurer Paula Ruth, APR, will feature Joe Householder of Public Strategies at its April 4 luncheon. The topic: "Guilty Until Proven Innocent." Householder was counsel to Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado during her recent ordeal. He has also worked for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Lee Brown. To register, go to www.prsahouston.org . The event is sponsored by U.S. Newswire and LifeGift Organ Donation Center.

Use the HSAE Job Bank

Mark Your Calendar

March 30: HSAE Luncheon, Selling Association Services, Maggiano's Italian Restaurant

April 27: HSAE Luncheon, Bob Hale, Association Management Success

May 24: HSAE Luncheon, Larry Johnson, Leading with Integrity, Staff Appreciation

June 28: HSAE Luncheon, Denise Landers, Learning to Swim in a Sea of Emails

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

27-Mar-07 6:00 PM

HSAE Association Insight 20-Feb 07

noemail@hsae.org — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:09:13 GMT

Hello [firstname],

Reserve Now for Feb. 23 Luncheon and "Get Smart" about Money

Charlotte Stallings, president and CEO of Getting Smart! LLC, a professional speaking, training and consulting firm that shows people how to get smart about money, selling and success, will be our speaker for this week's Houston Society of Association Executive's luncheon at the Omni Westside.

A former vice president of investment strategies, Charlotte developed a national initiative to provide investment and financial planning advice geared specifically to women. She served as the firm's national spokesperson on women and investing Issues.

Charlotte has a knack for sharing even the most complex business and investment concepts in a thoroughly understandable way. As a member of the "sandwich generation" - baby boomers charged with caring for themselves, their children and their parents - Charlotte is acutely attuned to the financial needs and challenges facing today's families. Her goal is to help people understand money and investing, and show them how to structure their financial lives and investment portfolios to achieve their dreams. Her book, I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Financial Lessons Learned The Hard Way, will be published this spring.

Details:

Time: 11:30, Friday, Feb. 23

Place: Omni Westside, 13210 Katy Freeway

Cost: $30 members; $35 guests

HSAE Past President Earns CAE

The American Society of Association Executives has announced that Allison Kelley, executive director of Romance Writers of America and immediate past president of HSAE, has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE™) credential. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry. Less than five percent of all association professionals have earned the CAE. To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 75 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. Approximately 3,300 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential, which was first awarded in 1961. Congratulations, Allison!

Presidential Insights

Greetings HSAE Members!

I hope to see you all at the Feb. 23 luncheon. This is the second of a new year of programming, and Jo D. Miller is lining up some fresh faces.

Please note that the ASAE Annual Meeting is August 11 – 14 in Chicago. This is a great place to learn a lot about association management in a short period of time. And remember, these classes count towards CAE credits. We want to encourage more members to work towards the CAE. Also this fall, the TSAE’s Annual Conference is in the Woodlands, September 23 – 25. This is another great opportunity right in our own backyard. We certainly encourage attendance and we are looking at ways HSAE might be involved.

In addition to great programming, the board would like to increase the benefits of membership. We think we will have a greater voice for associations if there are more of us. Every one of us, no matter what we do, interacts with potential members – individuals who will benefit by being a member of HSAE. I challenge all of our current members to bring in one new member this year. The first thing to remember is “The task is to ask:” What is the worst that can happen? All they can say is “no.” Bring your prospects to a luncheon. Once they are there, they will see the value, either for their association or for associate members, their venues and services. So, get out there and lasso ‘em in! Looking forward to serving you this year.

Best wishes,
Toy Wood, CAE
Greater Houston Builders Association

HSAE 2007 President

Volunteers Needed

If your resolution was to become more active in HSAE this year, then there are opportunities. Help is needed on both the membership and the social event planning committees. If you are interested, please contact Toy Wood at 281-970-8970 x 150. One goal of the HSAE board is developing future leaders through a committee structure.

2007 Dues are Past Due

By now, members should have received their invoices for 2007 dues. If you have not paid, it is time to renew! Contact Vicky Aranda at hsae@theassociationnetwork.com if you did not receive an invoice or you wish to be come a member. The board is happy to report that HSAE finished the year solidly in the black, so that no dues increase was necessary.

CAE Study Group Resumes in March

The HSAE Study group will form again in March for another session covering all of the domains and areas of Association Management on the CAE Exam. As always, all HSAE members are invited to participate. You don’t have to be planning to sit for the CAE exam! The Study Group is a great opportunity to commit to learning more about Association Management from your fellow members as we read and study together. We’ll determine dates, times and location as a group so that we can accommodate the majority of schedules of those interested in participating in the group. As has been the case for the past couple of sessions, participants can even join the discussions via telephone.

If you are interested in joining the study group, or would like more information, please contact Jeff Tafel, CAE at IFMA: 713-623-4362 or jeff.tafel@ifma.org.

In January:

President-Elect Jo D. Miller (Institute of Real Estate Management), left, and board member Vicky Aranda (Association Network) greet new member Nicole Kennedy, Romance Writers of America, at the January luncheon. Nicole will be putting out press releases for HSAE meetings.

At left, Keith Butler, Reliant Park, talks with Margery Reinheardt (Hilton Post Oak), Rita Klein and Lori Carper, both of Houston Association of Realtors, at the January luncheon featuring Karen McCollough on personal branding.

Association Day: A Celebration of the Best

Jay Hagins, CAE, Houston Ad Federation, a past president of HSAE (shown at right with Allison Kelley, CAE, 2006 president) was recognized as Association Executive of the Year and Margery Reinheardt, (shown in above section) Hilton Post Oak, was named Associate of the Year at the annual Association Day in October at the Courtyard on St. James Place.

Other winners included Adam Aschmann, Greater Houston Builders Association, future leader, (shown below left with Toy Wood, CAE, 2007 HSAE President, who nominated him for the award. The community service program of the American Diabetes Association was selected for the community service award because more than 1000 people were affected by its efforts. Below right, the award was accepted by Ralston Creswell, CAE, a past president, and his staff member Velma Martinez. Other nominees included Greater Houston Builders Association which built nine homes for Katrina evacuees and HomeAid for its program to benefit Mission of Yahweh.

Joann Y. Jackson, vice president for Market Diversity Effectiveness for North American Lodging Operations for Marriott International, captivated the October Association Day audience with her tales of generational diversity and how to work together.

Use the HSAE Job Bank

HSAE Powers Up at "Power Tools"

For the second year in a row, HSAE manned a booth at CenterPoint Energy's Power Tools for Nonprofit Conference tradeshow held Nov. 15 at Reliant center. This year's booth featured photos from monthly meetings. Among those staffing the booth this year were (left to right) President-Elect Jo D. Miller, Institute of Real Estate Management. 2006 President Allison Kelley, CAE, Romance Writers of America, and Ashley Evans, Institute of Real Estate Management.

Three Critical Steps to Implementing Organizational Change

By Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson is a well-known business author, speaker and consultant who will be the keynote speaker at our meeting on May 24. His latest book is Absolute Honesty: Building A Corporate Culture That Values Straight Talk and Reward Integrity. Larry and his daughter, Gen-Expert Meagan Johnson can be reached at 800-759-4933 or http://www.johnsontraininggroup.com .

Change is never easy. Whether you are expanding your customer service efforts, initiating a new cost management system, launching a total reengineering effort, or adjusting to a merger, shifting from the old to the new is usually painful. Here are three ideas that might help that process:

1. Clarify the reason for the change

In the 1996 presidential election, despite a Republican sweep of Congress two years before, Bob Dole lost by an overwhelming majority. Was it that the nation had suddenly become Democratic? Probably not. Was it that Dole ran a less-than-effective campaign? Maybe. Was it that the unemployment rate was at it’s lowest in 30 years and the economy had never been better? Absolutely.

Dole had the misfortune of running in a year when there was no compelling reason for change in the minds of the electorate.

Change puts people out of their comfort zones. They must learn new processes, establish new habits and develop new skills - which means that for a while they will be incompetent, inefficient, and awkward. Boy, that sure sounds like fun to me, doesn’t it to you? No wonder people resist change.

To overcome this resistance, people must have a compelling need to do so firmly established in their minds.

“But,” you may say, “I’ve told them the reason for the change.” Try this test: Select some employees at random, and ask them to give you, in their own words, the reason for the changes you want to make. If they can’t give you a reason for the change that would compel you to want to take the risk of changing, then it’s a fair bet that they do not feel compelled to change themselves.

2. Keep people informed about all aspects of the change

There is a cynical, Dilbert-like sign that pops up on office bulletin boards. It has a picture of a mushroom and a caption that reads, “They treat me like a mushroom here - they keep me in the dark. They feed me a lot of ‘mushroom food,’ and then they can me.” No one likes to be treated like a mushroom, and almost everyone likes to be “in the know.”

Unfortunately, it is conventional wisdom among many managers to only tell people what they absolutely are required to know to implement their little piece of the change. These managers reason that it’s not good to overwhelm people with too much information. Nonsense!

Nature abhors a vacuum. When there isn’t official information available, people will create their own rumors to fill the vacuum - and those rumors tend to be less accurate, more negative, and more distressing than any true information about the change that you’re keeping from them.

You might even want to start your own, true rumors by discussing various aspects of the change with your fellow managers or other OTD’s (organizational top dogs) while in earshot of line employees. Given human beings’ propensity for gossip, this “true gossip” will shoot through your organization faster than any official announcement, memo or e-mail.

3. Measure and reward what you want to change

In 1994, Boeing executive Gordon Bethune took the reins of Continental Airlines. At the time, Continental was a company in distress. Hated by its passengers, its unions, and its shareholders, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Bethune realized that to survive, Continental would have to start giving customers what they wanted, and what customers wanted was an airline that was reliable. In other words, an airline that would get you there on time, every time. Continental had one of the worst on-time arrival records in the industry.

On-time arrival became the mantra of the new Continental Airlines. Since arrival and departure times are already measured by the Department of Transportation, Bethune had only to reward improvement performance, and he did that the old fashion way - with money. He promised every employee that they would be paid $65 for every month that their on-time performance was good enough to place them in the top five nationwide, according to Department of Transportation figures.

You may say that that’s an expensive proposition. Continental has 40,000 employees, which at $65 per head adds up to $2.6 million. But their research showed that the loss of customers due to poor on-time performance was costing them $5 million per month. If spending $2.6 million could correct the problem, it would be a win/win for everyone.

And it worked. They announced the program in January 1995. And by the end of the month, their on-time performance had risen from 61% to 71%. In February, it jumped to 80%, which placed them in fourth place nationally. Today, Continental regularly ranks at the top of the rating in on-time performance. This, along with other changes Bethune has instituted has turned Continental around from being one of the worst airlines in the industry to one of the best (Source: Fortune Magazine, 5/25/98).

Of course, you may not have the margins to pay every employee a bonus for making progress toward a desired change. But as we all know, money is not the only motivator. Recognition, days off, flex time, praise, desirable assignments, increased responsibility, and opportunities to have input into decisions are just a few ways to reward the changes you want.

Two important things are critical, however:

1. You must measure progress toward the change outcomes you desire. There’s an old rubric that says, “What gets measured, gets done.” Bethune says, “What gets measured gets managed.”

2. You must reward progress toward those outcomes, based on the measurements. People will strive to support your change efforts when they can see what’s in it for themselves. And make sure the links between their progress and the rewards are clear and easy to understand. (The $65 bonus for Continental employees was not included in the employees' regular paychecks where it might be overlooked. It was issued as a separate check. Additionally, the taxes taken from this $65 were deducted from the regular paychecks so the bonus check was a simple, clear $65, period!).

So as you implement changes in your organization, ask yourself these three questions:

1. "Could anyone in this organization tell me what we are trying to change and why?"

2. "Could anyone in this organization describe the plan for the change and any changes to that plan?"

3. "Could anyone in this organization explain the direct and indirect rewards he or she will receive for making progress toward the desired outcome of the change?"

If the answer to all three of these questions is “yes”, perhaps your change efforts will be rewarded with success. If, on the other hand, the answer to any of the questions is “no,” you’ve probably got some work to do.

Mark Your Calendar

Feb. 23: HSAE Luncheon, Get Smart About Money, Omni Westside

March 23: HSAE Luncheon, Selling Association Services

April 27: HSAE Luncheon, Bob Hale, Association Management Success

May 24: HSAE Luncheon, Larry Johnson, Leading with Integrity, Staff Appreciation

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

HSAE 2007 president Toy Wood, CAE, Greater Houston Builders Association, presents a crystal bowl to outgoing president Allison Kelley, CAE, Romance Writers of America, at the December planning meeting, as Julie George (Loren Cook & Associates) (right front) and the rest of the board watch. Among the board members are second row (left to right) Jo D. Miller, Institute of Real Estate Management; past president Ralston Creswell, CAE, American Diabetes Association; Margery Reinheardt, Hilton Doubletree Post Oak, Phil Kunetka, Independent Electrical Contractors, Vicky Aranda, Association Network; Jeff Tafel, CAE, International Facility Management Association; Jennifer Lindsay, Reliant Park, and Paula Ruth, APR, Paula Ruth & Company Public Relations. Jay Hagins, CAE, Houston Ad Federation, was also present. Not pictured were Andy Teas, CAE, Houston Apartment Association, and Lori Carper, Houston Association of Realtors.

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.

20-Feb-07 12:09 PM

HSAE Association Insight for October Published

noemail@hsae.org — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 21:00:00 GMT

October newsletter

25-Oct-06 4:00 PM