Association Leadership - May/June 2008 - (Page 46)

The Lighter Side of Associations Elevator speeches Do people understand what you do? BILL WOLTERS, CAE President, Texas Automobile Dealers Association ÒI tell people that we represent the legislative interests of the automobile dealers in Austin. Then they say, ÔSo you sell cars?Õ I reply that TADA lobbies for franchised dealers like the American Medical Association advocates for doctors. I donÕt even mention education, regulatory and legal information, publications and our other products and services. That would be far too much to comprehend. ÒIf there is still no hint of recognition in their eyes, I say that we work for our member dealers to make sure that Texans have reliable, affordable transportation. ÒI wish that I could just tell people that I was a security guard at the Bullock Museum. That is much easier to understand.Ó BILL WOLTERS, CAE LESLIE MIDGLEY, CAE Executive VP, Texas Land Title Association LESLIE MIDGLEY, CAE ÒI work for a trade association that represents title companies. First, I have to explain what a title company is. Then I say, ÔWhat line of work are you in? ThereÕs an association for everything and you probably belong to one yourself.Õ We lobby for our industryÕs interests. We put on educational programs. We keep our members informed with newsletters and a Web site. WeÕre a special interest group really, even though, sadly, that usually has a negative spin put on it and associations actually do lots of great things and serve a wonderful purpose.Ó We all need that elevator speech as we work our way to the top. DAVID VANDELINDER DAVID VANDELINDER Executive director, Independent Insurance Agents of Texas ÒI work with independent insurance agents to protect their interests and make sure they are the preferred source for insurance in the state.Ó TOM CHAPMAN, CAE Executive director, American Orthodontic Society ÒI am the director of an association that provides continuing education for dentists in the Þeld of orthodontics. ItÕs a small-staff national association, so as director I have to do what must be done. On a typical day I may be working on a long-term strategic marketing plan, re-designing my Web site, making Þnancial investment decisions, going to the bank with a bag of deposits and restacking boxes of brochures in our storage area. I call it blue-collar executive management.Ó TOM CHAPMAN, CAE JANET H. MORROW, CAE, CMP Executive director, Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists ÒMy board members tell me that I herd cats for a living.Ó ◆ JANET H. MORROW, CAE, CMP Do their faces glaze over when you explain? 46 Association LEADERSHIP | May/June 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Association Leadership - May/June 2008

Association Leadership - May/June 2008 Contents President’s Column Homepage 60-Second Solutions Cover Feature: Associations As a Profession Positivity: Key to Retaining Young Talent Perspectives Association Case Study TSAE Annual Conference TSAE's Newest CAEs New Members Community Spotlight Grand Membership Campaign Committee Thank-yous Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Index to Advertisers Advertiser.com The Lighter Side of Associations- New Feature

Association Leadership - May/June 2008

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