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August 14, 2005
Environmental Scan and CAE Session Recaps
I split my time between two sessions this afternoon. I spent the first half of my 3:30 - 5 p.m. slot in the Karl Albrecht session, "Don't be a Sitting Duck: Track the Forces that Are Shaping Your Association," on the environmental scan his firm conducted on behalf of the Center for Association Leadership. The environmental scan is meant to be a tool that associations can use during their planning process to consider trends outside their influence that may influence their business.
One key finding in his session was that 97% of associations have a horizon of FIVE YEARS OR LESS in their strategic planning process. This made me think: Are associations in survival mode? Is this the planning equivalent of living paycheck to paycheck? Are we simply responding to event after event, and failing to create our desired long-term outcomes? If virtually all associations are choosing to ignore the long-term planning, can they ever expect to achieve truly great results? I realize that the world we live in changes so rapidly that sometimes it's virtually impossible to focus more than 5 weeks out, but something in me says it's necessary to continue long-range strategic planning.
An executive abstract of the environmental scan, titled "Mapping the Future of Your Association" is widely available at the Annual Meeting, as is a CD-Rom containing additional tools to help association executives apply the information.
I also attended half of "Earning the CAE: Your Path to Success." Greg Melia, CAE and Richard Poppa, CAE facilitated this session on the nuts and bolts of how to apply for, prepare for, and pass the CAE exam. I was particularly interested in this session as I will be walking across the stage this week in the CAE walk tomorrow evening. Greg covered the nuts and bolts of how to navigate the CAE application and examination process.
Posted by Ben Martin at August 14, 2005 12:24 AM
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