19366_Authority_August

38 The Authority │ August pmAA A ssoCiAte m embership – V Alue And b enefits By David Busch, Keystone Alliance Consulting Relationships, Relationships, Relationships! Nothing happens without relationships. When working with groups or seeking larger goals, relationships are a key to success. The best way to build those relationships is to get involved and participate. Attend the annual conference or a management seminar, or one of the dozens of educational sessions each year. Say hello to the person next to you, talk about what was presented. These are the key elements to building a professional relationship with your peers, your future clients and the industry you represent. In time, some of your relationships will grow and you will be exposed to more opportunities to get involved in the organization. You will grow and prosper as a result of the relationships while your work becomes more personal. At the same time, you will learn more and be better able to understand what your customers need. You may have the best service, skill, or equipment in the world, but how do you convey that to your potential customers if you don’t truly understand what your clients need? Relationships are the pathway to develop the understanding that is necessary. What is the value of your Associate Membership? Membership in the Association for associate members is a bargain at $195 for the first individual member and $125 for all additional individuals from a single firm. The Association provides valuable information to all members through The Authority magazine, training sessions and management workshops. All of these options provide insight on changes to our industry and the impact that these changes will have on the systems we operate or manage. This information alone is worth more than the cost of membership, but the value of membership is far greater. Involvement with the Association provides benefits far beyond the time invested and builds relationships with decision makers at the organizations that buy your product and select your service. These relationships build your career and insure your future. Opportunities to be involved with members can take many forms. One of the first steps for all members of PMAA is the attendance at a regional meeting. Regional meetings are typically held in the Spring and Fall in each of the 10 regions of PMAA. In addition to the opportunity to network during these events, they generally include educational presentations. For the golf lovers or general hacker, some meetings also include the option to golf before or after the meeting. Speakers at the regional meetings are often associate members that may have presented at the annual conference or other training events. If you want to be considered to speak at one of these sessions reach out to the regional director in your area or to the PMAA staff. Did you know that in the last 12 months PMAA conducted training to over 1,000 individuals at more than 50 sessions including the annual conference, training workshops, and webinars.