Association Leadership - November/December 2007 - (Page 33)

community spotlight Affiliate Member Name: Karen Fogle Position: Sales Manager, Association & Corporate Markets Organization: Plano Convention & Visitors Bureau Length of time in industry: 16 years Executive Member Name: Steven Ellinger Position: Executive Director Organization: Texas Association of Sports Ofﬁcials Length of Time in Industry: 4 years If someone wanted to do your job, what skills do they need? The three C’s – communication, caring and can-do attitude. Communication is a two way street – to listen to someone’s needs and ensure that you cover what they want. Caring promises your client that you are doing more than just your job. Can-do attitude lets everyone know that you are committed and will do whatever it takes to help a client, co-worker or industry peer. If someone wanted to do your job, what skills do they need? A background in sports ofﬁciating. The ability to juggle time, multi-task and assume various roles. Business skills. Meeting-planning experience. Strategic planning skills. Communication skills – both verbal and written. Being a good listener. And the ability to deal with various constituencies – the membership, local chapter ofﬁcers, statewide boards of directors, the state high school athletic association, the statewide coaches’ associations, the national high school athletic association and the national sports ofﬁcials association. Do you have a leadership example or advice on leadership? Leadership that allows for individual creativity brings out the best in the whole team. I think people will develop their own natural attributes and style when allowed the opportunity. Do you have a leadership example or advice on leadership? My reading list includes books on leadership, generally from different business perspectives. An irreverent one is Pat Croce’s “Lead or Get off the Pot!” because of the way conventional leadership wisdom is turned on its ear. As for advice on leadership – one of my favorites is the concept that an organization often takes on the persona of its chief executive ofﬁcer. Providing guidance and offering solutions to issues facing the local chapters and various boards of directors, communicating and being responsive to the membership, hopefully work to create a favorable identity of the association. What has been your most challenging accomplishment? Transitioning after the pre-9/11 era was the hardest challenge for me. It may seem a lifetime ago now, but a career move from the executive retreat markets to the convention and visitor bureau arena required new skill sets. I had no idea a city could offer so many different options! What has been your most challenging accomplishment? Unlike most every other state, TASO is an independent organization of sports ofﬁcials governed by sports ofﬁcials. TASO membership consists of 17,000 members who ofﬁciate six high school sports – baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball – spread out in 196 chapters throughout the state. Each TASO division is individually governed by a board of directors comprised of ofﬁcers and regional directors with overall TASO policy being set by the TASO board of directors. Working with local chapter leaders and seven statewide boards of directors provides a never-ending challenge. Do you have a passion or hobby? I will easily say that my family and friends, including my exchange student “children,” take a large portion of my personal time. Just keeping up with all their travels and travails makes me passionate about life and I love the perspective from other countries. I volunteer with international exchange student programs, indulge in an occasional scrap-booking binge and get lost in books and movies. Do you have a passion or hobby? Spending time with family, reading, playing golf, attending sporting events and traveling. ◆ November/December 2007 | Association LEADERSHIP 33

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Association Leadership - November/December 2007

Association Leadership - November/December 2007 Contents Chairman’s Column Homepage 60-Second Solutions TSAE Annual Meeting and Educational Conference Award Winners Event Sponsors Conference Highlights Adaptability During Difficult Times/Reinvented Associations 7 Measures of Success: Organizational Adaptability Crisis Calling Association Case Study: Who is Minding the Store – External Factors Between the Covers New Members Community Spotlight El Paso Index to Advertisers/Advertisers.com Board of Directors

Association Leadership - November/December 2007

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