You've Got Mail…

By Kay Eldridge, PHR, CPM
Academy Board Consultant/Facilitator
Training & Development Program Manager
City of Yuma, Arizona
kay.eldridge@ci.yuma.az.us

How should the AACPM Board members communicate with you? Carrier pigeon? Hot air balloon? Facebook™? How about a webcast? Maybe just a regular e-mail? Or, of course, there’s always ‘snail mail.’

As you’ve guessed, some of these are merely humorous suggestions (brought on by being in a small room together for three days, with copious amounts of snack food!), but in all seriousness, the AACPM Board is invested in keeping the membership informed. There are also times the Board is specifically looking for feedback from you.
           
At its recent mid-winter meeting, your AACPM Board began the process of setting goals for the upcoming years. Keeping in mind the vision and mission of AACPM, they engaged in a focused exploration of issues and ideas of what those goals might be. Using the Master Thinker™ tools developed by Edward DeBono, the Board developed focus statements, explored what factors needed to be considered to reach some of those areas identified, then began to present individual ideas on what the goals should look like. After reviewing them, and engaging in some discussion, each member voted four times for what they considered the top priorities. The discussion then turned to how to engage the membership in the goals, and communication strategies were developed.

So, now it’s YOUR turn. In the upcoming months, you will be contacted several times, and in several ways (seven times and seven ways, as a matter of fact!) to persuade you to give your viewpoint on what the Board identified as potential priorities, and what you think the Board should be focusing on during the next terms to meet the vision and mission. Based on the membership feedback, final goals will be decided and the process of writing objectives to achieve those goals will occur.

In closing, keep this in mind: Past President Ronald L. Buchholz, in his final article as President, encouraged all AACPM members to get involved with both state and national levels of AACPM. President-Elect Steve Mastro has encouraged you to share your views with the Board on the future of the Academy. And, President Greg Hyland encourages each member to give their opinion on issues that will help move the Academy into the next generation. For the more complete story each of these men tell, head to the website, www.cpmacademy.org, and view the Winter 2007 newsletter.

We look forward to hearing from you.

© Copyright 2008, American Association of Certified Public Managers®