Chairman's Message - September 2007

Well, my friends, welcome back from a long hot summer! Since we last talked, NAMME has been busy in its efforts to Revitalize, Reenergize, Rejuvenate and Reinvent this organization.

Under the direction of our Marketing Committee, led by Shabnum Norling and Shaunice Hawkins, we are conducting a membership survey to learn more about you, and how we can better serve your needs. Certainly, during the conference and throughout the course of the year, I talked to many of you about NAMME. Some of you have offered helpful advice that I am taking to heart, but I know we need to hear from as many of you as possible.

Truly, the future this organization – in the short term – depends on increasing our membership. Let me break it down into business terms: We currently have more than $13,000 in outstanding membership dues that has been invoiced – and past due. Now, we know, in business, that may look great on a balance sheet, but it’s brutal on the cash flow. Also, to keep this in perspective, this amount of ‘receivables’ is relatively small for a for-profit business, but for NAMME , it’s a problem. It directly affects our national staff, our programs and our growth.

Over the past two years, our membership has waned, reflective of an industry mired in the struggle to remain competitive and profitable. And there would be little disagreement that NAMME also has to adapt with changing times, and that’s where you enter the picture.

Shabnum and Shaunice – among our two newest board members – have dedicated precious time out of their schedules to create a survey that will help us strengthen our messaging, our programs and importance to the industry.

Trust me, I know your investment in time – about 20-minutes to complete this survey – will generate a favorable return.

Click Here to take survey

Keep the faith,

Neil Foote