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® BOSTON Covering Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island THE PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS WOMAN’S JOURNAL April 2008 Managing a professional association geared toward women can be exciting and challenging – and extremely rewarding. Women are supportive of other women and at the same time competitive in their quest for success. Women like to roll up their sleeves and get involved. It can be very fruitful to provide the supportive network for women who have the ability to touch other’s lives while improving their skills. Live Your Mission. When manag- ing a professional organization, it is critical to understand who you are and the niche you play in the market fulfill- ing an unmet need. Establish a mission and vision statement that enables you to stand out in a very competitive field and helps you engage and retain women who are interested in making a difference. Build an Effective Board. Encourage active participation from members to sit on the board of direc- tors or committees. Identify and advance talented professional leaders at every opportunity and ask that they serve on a committee or the board. Create the right atmosphere and team to lead the organization. Volunteers can pick and choose where they give their time. Clearly define roles, responsibilities and expec- tations to ensure all members work together as a team. Create a compelling reason why they want to serve on your organization’s leadership structure. Create a Strategic Plan. Align the plan with the mission and objectives of the organization. Have each committee develop a tactical plan that supports the mission and articulates the steps they will take for the year. Hold com- mittees accountable to achieve their objectives. Set the ‘Gold Standard’ in Programming. Establish a program committee to design, coordinate and oversee all professional development and networking programs. Committee members should be actively involved in all aspects of program management, from identifying and recruiting speak- ers to meeting management. Program topics can range from specific develop- ment skills to inspirational and timely themes. Be a Resource for Your Membership. Develop and implement programs designed to increase recruit- ment and retention of members. Track satisfaction and interests through sur- veys and focus groups. Increase oppor- tunities for members to meet and net- work with peers. Continue to refine the process by which you recruit, wel- come and renew members. Keep the Community, Membership Informed. Maximize your visibility by pursuing marketing and collaboration opportunities. Oversee the website and keep it timely and fresh. Create a newsletter and develop articles on activities, events and issues of interest, and actively pur- sue other services and resources for members. Hold a Signature Event. Coordinate an annual award in your field which recognizes outstanding accomplish- ments and achievements. Publicize the event with members and the media. Give Back to the Community. Engage in professional development activities. Offer pro bono consulting services through a series of workshops. Strive for Excellence. Measure the success of your programs and services. Develop a survey mechanism for pro- grams to gauge real-time satisfaction levels. Have Fun. Create the right atmos- phere to build and grow your organi- zation while enjoying the process and progress along the way. Listen to your members’ thoughts and ideas to devel- op effective programming and ser- vices. Active participation is one of the best ways to make your organization successful. The networking possibili- ties are endless in a professional associ- ation geared toward women. Stacie Madden is the principal of SEM Associates, a marketing and com- munications consulting firm focused on health care and education. She is also a member of the marketing committee for Women in Development, one of the largest organizations of advancement professionals in New England. Focus Support on Women Helping Women Stacie Madden ASSOCIATIONS
