ILMA Compoundings - August 2020 - 5

LETTER FROM THE CEO

THE NEW
ILMA
ON-THE-GO
APP!
See page 12

The Future of ILMA

LMA had big plans for 2020. We planned to travel the country to connect
with members through Regional Town Halls. Needless to say, like everyone
else, our plans were disrupted.
The disruption has caused so many people to rethink the way work is done
and connections are forged. For ILMA, so much of what we do is built on faceto-face interaction. As we all hunkered down in lockdowns, I had some time
to think about what ILMA will look like in the future, as we all become more
reliant on technology.
I say this with reservation, because I firmly believe that there is no substitute
for personal interaction. Indeed, it is the opportunity to network with colleagues
that draw so many to ILMA's meetings. Technology can never replace this.
Nevertheless, the ILMA staff moved forward, thinking outside the box and
exploring new ways to provide services to the members. Rather than abandoning our plans, we took our Town Halls virtual, and we found that members
embraced the opportunity to hear news and information from industry leaders.
Normally, that platform is in person at a meeting, but is that necessarily the
most efficient way for ILMA to provide that platform?
If anything has come out of the pandemic, it is the following: All businesses
have upped their game on the technology front. At the same time, because
commerce was forced to come to a standstill overnight, management has been
forced to become more efficient than ever.
ILMA must respond to the "new normal" of the way business is conducted. The
services that we provide to members must reflect that. As we move ahead, ILMA
will be offering more online tools, webinars and virtual meetings. The virtual Town
Halls were our first foray in that arena, and there will be more to come.
We used our website, email updates and a new app to make sure members had
the latest information on regulatory developments and guidance to assist them
with navigating through the pandemic as essential businesses. Members relied on our information, and traffic on our website
and app grew dramatically as a result.
With the launch of the new app, members can access ILMA information from anywhere. The app also provides the opportunity for member connection, with users having the ability to send emails or make phone calls directly from the app. If you
haven't downloaded it, you are missing out. At the same time, we are launching new online communities, which will provide
members with yet another way to connect and share information. Stay tuned.
But even with the push to online venues, we remain committed to providing the first-class networking opportunities that,
in many ways, are ILMA's brand. We plan to deliver that in our upcoming annual meeting, Oct. 24-27. And we are working
closely with the Boca Raton Resort and Club to incorporate safety into our event.
The pandemic has changed business. ILMA must deliver information and services in a way that serves the interests and
needs of the membership. Online platforms are more user-friendly than ever and offer efficiencies on so many levels. They are
a highly effective means to connect, communicate and educate. That is the future of ILMA.

Holly Alfano
Chief Executive Officer

ILMA Compoundings - August 2020

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