Board Task Forces Focused on Listening to Our Members, Providing Value

By Chad E. Harris, CAE, Executive Director, FarmHouse Fraternity, Inc.

Two audiences are essential to the success of KCSAE – our volunteers and our members. These two constituencies over the last few months provided a wealth of information to the KCSAE Board of Directors, through two specially-appointed task forces: Education & Networking and Sponsorship.  The work of, findings and recommendations from these task forces will help the Board in the coming months advance the mission of KCSAE and the Board’s commitment to always providing value to you, our members.

First, our thanks to the volunteers who served on these task forces:

• Education & Networking – Marilyn Bier (chair), Mike Chamberlain, Hannes Combest, Callie Castro, Heather Lehman, Melissa Mahoney and Crystal Roberts.
• Sponsorship – Kim Heck and Bob London.

Next, to you, our members, thank you! We appreciate those who shared your insight with these volunteers when they called, emailed or talked to you about KCSAE. Such feedback ensures the voice of our members is ever-present in the decisions made by KCSAE leadership. Based on the feedback you shared, each task force reported findings and offered key recommendations with the Board at its January meeting.

From the Education & Networking Task Force, it recommended the creation of an overarching Professional Development and Networking Committee, which will focus, develop and enhance the educational opportunities, combined with networking opportunities for all KCSAE members. The Board approved the establishment of such a committee to further develop the strategies recommended by the task force to achieve these recommendations. President Melinda Farris, will identify co-chairs for this new committee this month. If you have a specific interest in assisting with this effort, please contact Cynthia Edmunds at cedmunds@kcsae.org.

The Sponsorship Task Force reported that our allied members and vendors value and appreciate their affiliation with KCSAE and our programs provide for positive interaction with our members. Opportunities exist, however, to incorporate stronger elements of technology, recognition and more networking, as part of broader sponsorships and partnerships.

The volunteer work of these two essential task forces is greatly appreciated and their recommendations will continue to be reviewed and implemented by the Board in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, all KCSAE members will have the opportunity to share your thoughts directly about your KCSAE-experience through the upcoming Annual Member Survey. Watch for it in your inbox and thank you in advance for sharing your feedback about the KCSAE member experience.

The Board looks forward to sharing more with you in the weeks ahead, as we implement the feedback you offer, so as to continue to add value to the KCSAE-member experience. To you our members, to you our volunteers, we say thank you!