Acronym

We have learned of many associations that have stepped up to offer expertise, volunteers, donations and even temporary housing to the hundreds of thousands of displaced wildlife victims in Southern California. As in past catastrophes, associations are finding creative ways to apply their skills, imagination and members to addressing this crisis. You’ll find a growing list of examples on the ASAE & The Center site, and we encourage you to let us know of others. Thank you all!

Let me mention two partnering associations in particular: the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) and California Teachers Association (CTA). Despite limited operations, SDEA staff and members has "overwhelmed" the group with offers of help when it called for volunteer tutors, donations, childcare and coordination help for families sheltering at Qualcomm Stadium and a local high school. The association also is housing numerous displaced educators at its offices, auditorium and meeting spaces.

CTA, meanwhile, is helping coordinate and is urging displaced members to tap into its “CTA Disaster Fund." Established years ago, the fund offers emergency grants of up to $1,500, with an additional $1,500 grant possible. Monies come from voluntary contributions by CTA members and periodic fundraising drives. The FACT Foundation provides administrative services.

For a model disaster assistance resource for members, visit CTA’s disaster resources page

I’m reading Surrounded by Geniuses, by Alan S. Gregerman. Gregerman’s main argument is that everyone in your organization has the potential to come up with brilliant ideas—it’s just that most organizations, and the conversations within them, aren’t structured in the right way to let those ideas out.

He cites one example from the rental car company Enterprise that I found particularly inspiring: “[Enterprise’s] biggest innovation was probably an amazingly simple and compelling idea suggested by an everyday genius. In 1974, a branch manager in Orlando began to offer customers free rides to the rental office. This service became the ‘We’ll Pick You Up’ theme that is now an Enterprise tradition.”

I love that this idea originated in a branch office and was picked up by the national chain. It actually reminds me of an interview I conducted recently with some staff at the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, about an online tool they developed called Locate a Park that has been quite successful for IPRA members; the idea may be picked up at a national level by the National Recreation and Park Association. For those of you with chapters—are you doing all you can to magnify the power of innovative ideas being generated at the chapter level? For those of you working at a state or local association, do you have ideas that you could share with your sister associations in other states/localities or with a national affiliate?

The opening night dinner reception at the Tri-State Conference





The mad scramble for food




The view from my hotel room balcony at Baytown Village




Tea at Sea on The Solaris




Shopping at the Tea Room at the Sandestin Resort

Hello, from the lovely Sandestin resort in Miramar Beach, Fla. I am here attending the Tri-state Conference of the Alabama Council of Association Executives, the Mississippi Society of Association Executives and the Louisiana Society of Association Executives. We're fun by ourselves, but when you get all three of us together...watch out!

I'll be filling y'all in on the great educational sessions. And if you are considering having a future meeting at SanDestin and you have any questions for me, just e-mail me at slea@mhanet.org. I'll try to get the information for you. (And if you want to say Hello to a friend in one of those associations, let me know and I will try and track them down for you.)

My first session this morning is Creating High Energy Websites and PR Materials: Applying the Science of Behavioral Kinesiology to The Art of Creating with Jerry Teplitz. I hope it's as interesting as it sounds considering its 8 a.m. and I haven't finished my first cup of coffe yet!

Those of you who know me know that I started my career in the association mecca of the world: Alexandria, Virginia. I cut my teeth in a couple of international associations – one trade association, and one professional society. Like many association executives in the DC marketplace, I developed an inside the beltway bias about the face of the association industry. One of the ways this manifested itself was in my opinions about components. For me and many of my colleagues in the DC area, state affiliates, chapters or allied organizations were disrespectfully viewed as nuisances and distractions.

A little over three years ago, looking for a change of scenery and relief from the traffic, I left DC to work for a statewide association in Richmond, just 100 miles south of Alexandria. In the time that I’ve been here, this association has grown to be the biggest I’ve ever worked for both in terms of staff and budget. I’ve also gotten to know association executives at other state associations around the country and have been consistently impressed with their capabilities. Furthermore, I’ve come across some local associations with programs that absolutely knock my socks off.

My colleagues at national and international associations are always shocked when I tell them the size of our membership. Still, I’m continually asked by my peers when will I be moving back to DC, or when will I be getting back to a national or international association. No time in the immediate future, I tell them; I’m very happy where I am.

In the years since I left DC, I’ve noticed that the savviest association executives are the ones that treat their affiliates and chapters with the utmost respect. They acknowledge that they’re partners in some ways and competitors in others. But there’s a genuine modesty and conscientious decorum in their relationships with chapters and affiliates. Although we’re not connected in any official way, I’ve always been pleased by the way I’ve been treated by the national association with whom my employers is aligned. Because of this positive relationship, I’m happy to carry the national association’s message to our membership and prospects. The results of this respect are played out in other areas as well.

Truly respecting your components may require giving up some control over programs. Opening yourself up to competition from chapters in some program areas may be necessary, too. Completely turning some things over entirely to components might be a demonstration of good faith.

Do you respect your components? Or do you overtly block them in some areas? Would they be offended if they overheard your staff’s indiscriminate comments about them?

As someone who has worked on both sides of the fence, I have learned: The beltway bias is unfounded and counterproductive.