Association Leadership - September/October 2008 - (Page 15)

cover feature Lange hopes to continue to drive those points home, while also building a greater public awareness of the economic power of associations, and investing in the burgeoning power of “millennials” – the default term for the generation born between 1980 and 1994, which is often cited for its prowess with online and other forms of social networking. “They are the emerging leaders,” she said. “They’re a key group that I want to draw in to association management. I believe we have a great chance to harness their enthusiasm and global perspective. The puzzle is ﬁnding relevant ways to connect them with our existing leadership groups and show them the value of relationships in association management.” A native of Bayside, N.Y. and a graduate of the University of Connecticut, Lange began exploring her own global perspective after college, when she moved to Germany with initial designs on putting her journalism/ language degrees to work as a foreign correspondent. Those German connections led her to Texas, where she began working on the editorial staff of Texas Medicine, and a seven-year stay at the Texas Medical Association. With the encouragement of her managing editors, she was an active volunteer with the International Association of Business Communicators. That volunteer effort led to a professional opportunity to head up the American Institute of Banking-Central Texas and the subsequent transition to the Independent Bankers Association of Texas. “That’s the beauty of association management skills,” she said. “They are transportable from one industry to another.” It’s through the IBAT educational foundation’s alliance with Junior Achievement that she’s helping to plant the aforementioned seeds of prosperity with the ﬁfth-grade through high school set, helping carry out a recent state legislature mandate to bring ﬁnancial education to schools and follow through on the foundation’s mission to build “ﬁnancially literate communities.” “Our member bankers make terriﬁc volunteer teachers of ﬁnancial education,” Lange said. “Working with Junior Achievement on a statewide basis, we are able to leverage the connections between their tested and Texas Education Agency approved curriculum, with local bankers who usually have close tie in with their school districts.” Over time, Lange hopes the program and others like it will help the state shed the dubious honor of having the lowest overall credit rating in the country. “Kids grasp the concept and fun of saving at an early age.” Lange said. “Those early lemonade stand and grass cutting experiences are basic entrepreneur examples that Junior Achievement builds on in the microsociety centers called Exchange City, Finance Park and Biztown. At the high school level,” she added, “our kids have moved into the fun of spending and credit choices. If they’ve never continued on page 16 356083_HotelContessa.indd 1 September/October 2008 | Association LEADERSHIP 15 11/9/07 1:59:19 PM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Association Leadership - September/October 2008

Association Leadership - September/October 2008 Contents President’s Column Homepage 60-Second Solutions An Interview with TSAE’s New Chairperson TSAE’s Newest Board Members Vetting Volunteers Orientation of Volunteer Leaders Get on Board – Qualification Considerations Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes Liability Insurance for Volunteer Leaders Committee Planning TSAE’s Annual Golf Outing Congratulations to Our New CAEs Perspectives Association Case Study New Members Community Spotlight San Antonio Beaumont Index to Advertisers Advertiser.com The Lighter Side of Associations

Association Leadership - September/October 2008

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