The Keys to Thriving in Challenging Times
In one way or another most of us are dealing with the challenges that the economic slowdown has created. In order to effectively handle these challenges, you have to be aware and ready to act when the possibility of change occurs within your association. You cannot control or change the environment around you, but you can effectively position yourself to do more than simply survive. You also can thrive during these times.
Consider the following tips to ensure the success of your association and longevity of your career.
1. Be aware of your surroundings. Often workers fail to notice the early signs of downsizing and therefore are surprised when they occur. Keep a close eye on your organization as well as the industry that you are in.
2. Form your plan of attack. Imagine that you are in the worse case scenario and face it head on. Imagine what it would be like if you were to lose your job. This allows you to confront and examine the situation and, at the very least, if you are faced with a lay-off you will feel more in control.
3. Neutralize your fear. When the fear system of the brain is active the exploratory and risk-taking are turned off. It sounds simple, but avoiding negative people and situations will allow you stay positive.
4. Keep your head up. Maintaining a positive attitude in a negative situation is the best way to see the light at the end of tunnel. Losing your current position could be the first step to learning and achieving new things.
5. Jump in. In these times you may simply want to hunker down, which just isn’t effective. Make sure that you are visible within your organization, volunteer for projects, take credit for your work and speak up! Those who show dedication to the organization are more likely to come out on top when downsizing occurs.
6. Actions speak louder than words. Be sure to watch your posture at meetings, maintain eye contact, lean forward when in a conversation. These are all signs that you are engaged in the conversation and ready take on new challenges!
7. Know your boss. Just as people read your body language, you need to fluently speak your boss’ unspoken language. This will allow you to hone in on what they are or are not saying and could turn into a survival skill.
8. Get out. Make sure you are involved both at work and in interests outside the office. Creating a positive work/life balance will allow you to be more effective while at the office.
9. Grow Professionally. Take the opportunity to invest in yourself and learn new skills. This will show that you value what you do and where you want to go. The more you learn, the more valuable of an asset you are to your current employer and to your next one!
10. Network! Spend time to increase your social capital. Social capital is the wealth that exists because of your social relationships.
11. Mourn to grow. A new beginning always means the loss of the old. Take the time you need to realize that you are walking away with experience and gained knowledge. Value what you had as you can use it in the future.
12. Go for it. Not knowing where you are headed can be stressful, but at the same time exciting. Embrace the change and explore the opportunities that it presents.
A Young Professionalís Perspective: Find Success in Failure
Every year at this time many of us are doing the same thing…failing to keep the New Year’s resolution we set just a few short days ago. Some people say that the reason for this is lack of effort or simply being lazy, but I believe that there is a better explanation. While most of us have the best of intentions when setting goals, it is very easy to get caught up in the day to day. We are all very busy and not everything can make it to the “must-get-done-today” list. So, while you want to lose weight, you just don’t have time to make it to the gym. Or, you would like to grow professionally, but attending an educational session just doesn’t fit into your agenda.
I believe it takes putting things into perspective in order to see the true value in making long term resolutions or goals. You don’t get instant results by hitting the gym. But, if you develop a plan and work out regularly the results become apparent. I believe professional development is the same. Attending professional development programs provides you with a few benefits immediately. But, the true value comes from creating your own personal professional development plan. Not only will YOU see the results, but just like when you are working out, others will see the results, too. Take the time in 2010 to invest in your professional growth. It is a resolution worth keeping.
 What a Night!
The 2009 STAR Awards was a night of many firsts! With an outstanding number on entries for 2009 we had the most first-time winners in the program’s history. Congratulations to all of the 2009 STAR Award winners:
Awards of Excellence Over $750,000
Website: Alpha Chi Omega
Newsletter/Bulletin: Kiwanis International
Non-Dues Revenue Program: Indiana Bankers Association
Professional Dev. Program: Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
Membership Program: Indiana CPA Society
Community/Philanthropic Program: Indiana Perinatal Network
Government Affairs Program: Indiana Academy of Family Physicians
Convention: National Chimney Sweep Guild
Outstanding Individual Program: Indiana Apartment Association
Innovative Marketing Campaign: Association of Indiana Counties
Magazine/Newspaper: Academy of Model Aeronautics
Awards of Excellence Under $750,000
Innovative Marketing Campaign: American Software Testing
Community/Philanthropic Program: Bose Public Affairs Group
Greater Indianapolis Hotel & Lodging Association
Newsletter/Bulletin: Indiana Society for Healthcare Engineering
Golden Shoestring: Northern Indiana Apartment Council
Website: Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
Outstanding Individual Program: Greater Indianapolis Hotel & Lodging Association
Supplier
Supplier Website: South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority
Supplier STAR Service: South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority
Supplier Marketing: Horizon Convention Center
Association Professional of the Year: Jennifer B. Briggs, CAE & Laurie A. Rees
Rising STAR of the Year: Chris Walsh
Associate of Year: Jillian Dampier
Supplier of the Year: Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association
 In addition to the usual festivities, this year's event included a silent auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting VSA arts of Indiana. We are thankful for all of the generous donations and bids that made the silent auction a huge success. We were able to donate $3,067 to VSA to assist them in achieving their mission.
Thank you to our generous event sponsors!
Eye on Association Professionals
- ISAE Mourns the Loss of Long Time Member and Friend: Wilford A. Butler, Jr., a nationally recognized management consultant to the non -profit community, died on December 13, 2009. For twenty-four years (1962-1986) he was chief executive for Delta Upsilon International Fraternity and also
 led its educational foundation. He was instrumental in the relocation of the fraternity headquarters from New York City to Indianapolis and was active in promoting the State of Indiana and Indianapolis as a headquarters site for Greek-letter organizations. In 2009 he was given the distinguished alumni award, Delta Upsilon’s highest honor. He was a President of the Fraternity Executives Association and took a lead role in the establishment of the American College Fraternity Bicentennial Commission, edited the association’s monthly publication and wrote the fiftieth anniversary history of the Association which presented its Distinguished Service Award and honorary life membership. Other national fraternities recognized Butler’s leadership, and he was the recipient of the Salsbury-Scott Interfraternity Award from Tau Kappa Epsilon and Theta Chi Fraternity Chapman-Alter Award for Interfraternal Excellence as well as the Theta Chi Citation of Honor for outstanding service to the fraternity movement. Following his tenure at Delta Upsilon, Butler established an association management firm to provide turnkey, interim management, and specialized program development to a client roster than numbered over 800 professional societies, trade associations and their foundations in the U.S. and abroad. He was actively involved in the Indiana Society of Association Executives and served as its president and later as head of its foundation. Butler established the society’s newsletter, which continues to this day. Continue Article
- Congratulations are in Order: Kathy Finley, PhD, CAE, CFRE is named executive director of the Organization of American Historians.
 The executive board of the Organization of American Historians, which has executive and editorial offices housed at Indiana University, has appointed Katherine "Kathy" Finley, PhD, CAE, CFRE as the organization's new executive director.
Finley will begin March 1, 2010, in advance of the OAH annual meeting in Washington, D.C., April 7-10. Katha Kissman, OAH interim executive director, will serve in a transition capacity through the 2010 annual meeting. Continue Article
Resolve to Renew!
Make the resolution to invest in yourself professionally through top notch education and networking and join your colleagues who have already renewed! SAE membership offers association professionals the chance to grow professionally through the ability to share knowledge with your peers, attend educational events, and much more. This year ISAE has resolved to be more relevant than ever and focus on assisting our members in taking their careers and their associations to the next level by offering new products and services.
What you stand to gain:
- More than 40 hours of professional development opportunities!
- Outstanding professional networking!
- Ability to stay abreast of non-profit news though the ISAE Twitter feed!
- 24 hour access to the association community through updated ISAE website and NEW Facebook page!
- Member only opportunities including: discounted event pricing, FREE job postings, FREE CAE study sessions, access to online resources and an online community of association professionals!
Online renewal is available and as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4
- Log onto ISAE website
- Enter your last name and first initial
- Update your information
- Submit payment
There is only one way to make sure that you have the opportunity to benefit from these opportunities…Renew today!
Thank you to those that have renewed your 2010 membership!
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