Association Leadership - November/December 2007 - (Page 7)

chairman’s column “Both TSAE and ASAE have undergone changes in recent years, and we have struggled to define our relationship. We want to better capitalize on the strengths of each organization to complement each other and work together in as many ways as possible.” Jim Boon, CAE TSAE Chairman Organizational Adaptability What an appropriate theme for this issue of Association Leadership. As we begin our 2007-08 TSAE year, it is a good time to look in the mirror and evaluate our own organizational adaptability. Adapting to new leadership is a challenge we all share, and I thank you for allowing me to serve as your chairman this year. You have elected outstanding board members, and I look forward to working with them and with more than 150 TSAE members who have volunteered to serve on committees. Together, and with your help, we want to make this TSAE’s best year ever. The board got off to a great start with our annual retreat in early October, where our ﬁrst priority was to get to know one another. Since we meet only four times a year, it was important to create open and trusting relationships so everyone is comfortable sharing thoughts and expertise. We discussed three themes that I introduced at our annual conference in the Woodlands: our relationship with ASAE, increasing diversity in our profession and supporting higher education. Each of these themes also relates to the need for us to be an organization adaptable to opportunities. Both TSAE and ASAE have undergone changes in recent years, and we have struggled to deﬁne our relationship. We want to better capitalize on the strengths of each organization to complement each other and work together in as many ways as possible. Diversity is a term that is often overused and misunderstood. From a practical perspective, the workforce of Texas is changing – racially, generationally, culturally and experientially. Who are the members of our associations and what are their expectations? Is our leadership representative of this new makeup and are we adapting to these challenges? Where are our future leaders coming from? Can we do more to encourage young people to enter the association management profession? It should not be surprising that I am interested in higher education. I see ﬁrst hand how the state of Texas is slipping behind the nation in its number of college graduates. The long-term effect of this trend is an under-educated workforce that will negatively impact the economy of our state. Since the viability of associations is directly related to the economy, it is in our self-interest to use the enormous clout of our combined association members to make sure higher education is properly funded in the future. Obviously, your board did not resolve all these issues, but we had a lively discussion and will be introducing some exciting new initiatives as the year progresses. Stay tuned! Also, watch for a message from our president, Beth Brooks, in this column in our next issue. We will be alternating issues so that she can bring you more day-to-day insight into TSAE activities, programs and association news. I hope to see you at many TSAE events in the coming months. In the mean time, I would love to hear from you anytime about our themes for 2007-2008 or any other TSAE issues. Drop me a note at boon@alumni.utexas.edu. ◆ November/December 2007 | Association LEADERSHIP 7

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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