Organizations Gain Competitive Edge with Municipal Monitoring

 Articles  No Responses »
Apr 252009
 

Over the last 10 years, many issues that were once handled at the state level have been shifted to local government. Keeping your members and clients up-to-date on local happenings is vital to any regional organization. Timely and relevant information can make a huge impact on business decisions. Association Business Solutions (ABS) has developed The Municipal Monitor™, a valuable tool that can be tailored for your Association, Chamber or company.

ABS researches and writes a quick and easy-to-read municipal update to give your members timely information on what’s going on in the district governments where they operate. Whether it is passage of a new law that affects business transactions or government plans for a major redevelopment project that could impact the local market, ABS will report on it to help keep your constituents better informed.

In addition to the newsletter, ABS can provide a menu of other related services focusing on municipal concerns for your members:

• Providing your organization unified representation on any major issue affecting the constituents

• Working with your legislative committee to coordinate municipal outreach with state and federal efforts

• Serving as a point of contact for members who want additional information on a particular issue. Members call us directly for research and follow-up.

• Promoting members’ views on proposed and/or enacted municipal ordinances to local officials

• Facilitating meetings between members and municipal and/or county officials on various issues of concern

• Surveying members to ensure focus on municipal issues of greatest concern

• Representing members at various county and local meetings and functions

• Supplying background information of each municipality for your website

• Monitoring, reviewing, and/or analyzing local legislation and regulations

Contact ABS to develop a customized program for your organization.

Bookmark and Share
 Posted by ABS at 12:30 pm  Tagged with: ,

Going Green All the Way: Eco-Friendly Companies Requiring Green Standards for Vendors

 Articles  No Responses »
Sep 262008
 

by Libby Vinson

 

Business as-usual is changing its tune.  Sustainable building construction, energy-effective design, and eco-friendly business practices are proven sound economic choices.  More and more companies are getting the message that ‘going green’ is not only good for the environment, but is economically advantageous.  Innovative entrepreneurs and CEO’s understand that they can meet their customers’ needs, expand their business base, increase profits and help solve environmental problems…all at the same time.

 

Many green companies are now taking their commitment to the environment one step further by choosing to do business with vendors that share their same eco-friendly values.  These businesses know that their ‘carbon footprint’ includes every partner in their supply chain.  That is why working solely with environmentally-sensitive vendors is becoming a central component of green corporate strategy.  When looking at the numbers, the reasons for going green—all the way—are very clear.

 

From materials and construction to lighting, heating, and cooling, the building industry accounts for roughly 40 percent of all the energy used in the United States.  Eco-conscience companies are trying to do their part to reduce emissions by building or retro-fitting their offices to meet the requirements for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the nationally accepted benchmark for design construction and operation of high performance green buildings set forth by the United States Green Building Council.  While the initial outlay of money to use green architects and builders is generally greater than traditional construction, the payoff comes over time with savings in heating and electricity costs and lower dependency on oil.

 

Creating eco-friendly offices is only the first step that many of these green companies are taking.  Selecting eco-friendly vendors to maintain the space is just as important.  Green firms of all sizes are choosing pesticide-free landscapers that use plants that don’t need additional watering after the first year; cleaning companies that use environmentally-sensitive products; energy star rated appliances; office furniture, carpeting and other related equipment that does not emit chemicals under ambient conditions; and the list of partners in going green goes on and on.

 

More and more service industries and other vendors are jumping on board too.  Accounting, engineering, law firms and other professional service providers are going green and becoming part of the supply chain solution.  One fine example is MantaCole—a full service business law firm that has harnessed the power of technology to deliver services to clients in a virtually paperless environment.   Also known as “TheElawfirm.com,” MantaCole enables clients to view their files electronically through a totally secure and reliable company server.  They can easily track their budgets, monitor the status of their case and receive all their case documents in encrypted electronic files.   

Not only has MantaCole’s paperless system saved an estimated 12 trees per year, going green has proved to be beneficial for the firm’s bottom-line.  The company’s paperless system has allowed attorneys to deliver all their services in a more streamlined and productive manner, which has resulted in double-digit increases in growth since the company opened four years ago.  

Technology and video conferencing capabilities utilized by MantaCole reduce the need for employees to travel to the office, court, and even client locations.  Fewer trips by plane and automobile mean less carbon dioxide emissions.  It is a winning combination for employees and clients as well as the planet.

The impact of the green initiative is also being felt by the hospitality industry.  As the number of firms becoming environmentally conscious increases, many properties are implementing conservation practices to meet the demand for green facilities to host meetings and conferences.

The managers of green properties are eager to institute environmentally friendly policies that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste.  These practices also make good fiscal sense by reducing the facility’s overhead costs in the face of growing economic challenges. 

Any environmentally interested group can walk their talk by choosing an environmentally responsible site for meetings and conventions. Conservation by the hospitality industry is appreciated and required to achieve the operation and maintenance of buildings that are environmentally responsible, cost effective, productive and healthy places to work—a goal that benefits everyone!

Published in CT Green Scene

Bookmark and Share
 Posted by ABS at 11:27 pm  Tagged with: , ,

A Quality Choice

 Articles  No Responses »
Sep 202006
 

An association management company (AMC) is a firm of skilled professionals whose goal is to provide management expertise and specialized administrative services to associations in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

Every association is different. Each has different needs, ideas and goals. Whether your association has 10 members or 100,000 members, a management structure can make or break it. Over the years, associations have grown in number and size. Managing these associations has become increasingly complex. Association management companies are able to deal with this complexity and the rapid changes taking place in professions, technology and government regulations.

 

Many decisions, from the smallest to the most crucial, have to be made in your association. Association management firms allow association leaders to put more energy into their industry and profession rather than into time consuming administrative tasks.

An association management company allows your organization to do this, along with helping meet its overall mission and goals. An AMC also will provide general and specialized areas of expertise including:

 

•  Strategic Planning
•  Financial Management
•  Executive Management
•  Membership Development
•  Marketing & Public Relations
•  Educational & Professional Development
•  Communication Services
•  Meeting & Event Planning
•  Cost-Effective Solutions
•  Personnel, Equipment, Facilities & Budget
•  Administrative Tasks

 

Association management firms have helped obtain quality and consistency in these areas for over 100 years. AMCs remain the effective solution to the management problem. By offering advantages that more associations are discovering, association management companies can help you obtain your mission.

 

Effective Management Selection

Selecting a form of management must be based on an association’s own goals, members, ideas and mission.

 

Association Management Company Education Foundation (AMCEF) compiled a scientific study, Re-Assessing Effective Association Management: 1995 Survey of Elected Leaders, concerning association leaders’ perception of critical factors utilized in selecting and evaluating forms of management. The study showed that elected leaders look at the association management company as an efficient and effective form of management. This includes quality staff management and financial control along with management continuity in the face of changing leadership.

 

According to association leaders, the most important areas when selecting a form of management are:

•  good communications
•  planning and organizational skills
•  good leadership
•  public relations and marketing expertise
•  association management experience
•  cost-effective solutions
•  continuity of management
•  depth of staff
•  personal style Choosing the most professional and effective management should be the  

   main objective for any association. Perhaps now is the time to consider an association  

   management company for your organization.

 

The Quality Choices

Professionalism and Experience in Management

An association has to anticipate and plan for its future needs. Planning is a primary task of management. Planning is essential to making things happen and allows management to identify and address problems before they occur. By anticipating and identifying industry change, an association management company can develop collective problem solving techniques needed to keep an industry prosperous.

 

Association management companies have immediate access to tried and proven techniques from their experience with other associations who have faced some of the same obstacles you may encounter. AMCs’ depth of staff will create more diversity, expertise and foster idea exchange. Your association will benefit from the management company’s experienced staff customizing services for your specific goals and assistance during those complex peak periods.

 

Many associations are limited by size and qualifications of staff which may result in inefficient staff utilization. Your association will no longer waste downtime by training employees. Marketing and public relations is your communication with the public and is often neglected in associations because of staff shortage or lack of expertise.

 

An association management company’s diverse staff experience in association marketing and public relations can result in more effective event and meeting planning. Through research, planning and feedback, an association management company can also create effective systems necessary to carry out and monitor progress toward your priorities and objectives.

 

Innovative and Effective Communications

Communications and motivation of staff and volunteers play a big role in keeping an association on its feet and moving, and cannot be overlooked when deciding on which management to choose. Management delivery of timely, accurate and appropriate information to the elected leaders and association membership is a crucial part of the communications process.

 

Membership retention and solicitation are vital to all associations. Current member needs must be met along with identifying future problems that may occur. The key to membership is listening to what members need and using the proper communication channels to fulfill those needs.

 

In today’s fast paced world, technology is constantly changing. An association management company is equipped to meet the demands of today’s high-tech business environment. By having this high-tech knowledge backing your association, it will make meeting challenges easier – - not to mention saving time and money.

 

As your association grows and develops, your members should develop and benefit from it. An association management company can plan and maintain educational and professional development programs, which will enrich communications and fill members’ professional and personal growth needs.

 

A quality association management company believes in the integrity of service built upon the communication of client expectation and company commitment.

Financial Management: Cost-Effective Solutions

Handling association funds is a critical area and must be evaluated closely when choosing a form of management. Your organization should not have to make major investments in full-time staff and office facilities. Operating with volunteers who often lack time, experience and expertise in key areas will create downtime and in turn will result in wasted resources. This will result in high overhead and headaches because long term goals frequently get lost in day to day details.

 

Your organization can enjoy the best of both worlds by obtaining the professional expertise of top specialists with an association management company for a fraction of what it would cost to hire them as full-time staff. These experienced professionals will execute assigned tasks cost-effectively for clients and this will allow your organization’s needs to be customized to meet specific goals.

 

AMCEF survey results showed association leaders rated financial and operational performance to be of great importance to their management structure. Association management companies establish clear performance standards and regularly review the quality and cost of purchased services.

 

In order for your association to grow, it must take cautious steps when investing resources. By becoming partners with an association management company, it will allow your association to save valuable resources. An association management company has the facilities for you to have a centralized office. Sharing overhead costs for professional offices with other associations will increase your resources and capabilities without major capital investment.

 

An association management company has the ability and expertise to handle all your financial operations and bring your association up to speed in its accounting systems. Maintaining tight control over resources and keeping your cash fully vested with detailed reporting will become part of your association’s financial services. Your association can eliminate costly problems such as payroll and personnel duties along with liability problems, property issues, insurance and employee benefits. Many associations try to take on all these administrative tasks and lose sight of goals and become counterproductive. An association management company can alleviate this for you and make your organization run financially smooth.

Written and Approved by the International Association of Association Management Companies (IAAMC)

Bookmark and Share
 Posted by ABS at 9:47 am  Tagged with:

THE WRITE STUFF: CREATING THE MUST-READ ARTICLE

 Articles  No Responses »
Oct 202004
 

by Karla Pollack and Paula Hartman

Write it, and they will read. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Increasingly, it’s becoming all about the content, content, content. That’s where sales and marketing techniques come into play. Start by taking inventory of the stack of reading materials on your desk not to mention in the reception area and in the recycling bucket, never to be opened by the target readers.

 

What can you do to increase the odds of your article seeing the glow of fluorescent light over the member’s desk? The Basics like any writing assignment, its good to start with the basic five Ws: who, what, where, when and why.

  1. Who are you writing to? Is your target audience a group of conservative investment bankers or an association of real estate agents? You want to write in the style preferred by the industry at large whether it be colloquial, or crisp and formal.

  2. What should you write? What’s keeping your readers up at night? Can your topic solve some of their problems? Clearly articulate the topic in the headline and make sure your content delivers its promised solutions.

  3. When should you place the article? It sounds obvious, but you want to strategically publish your article at the appropriate time of the year or when there is the best fit with the rest of the editorial content in a publication. (For example, you wouldn’t want to cover fall cleanup in the December issue.)

  4. Where should you publish? First, determine which publication types you have available, and then select the publishing vehicle that makes sense for your organization. Don’t worry about the “glam” factor of the publications. If your audience reads a highly technical trade journal, then that is where they should find you. Some professions may only check fax communications if that’s where all their bids are delivered to the office. On the other hand, e-zines are effective niche publications for other groups.

  5. Why write the article? A published article serves as a great promotion for your organization. If you are writing an article that can help your target audience, it’s a perfect opportunity to attach your company name to this resource.

The Next Steps:

So you’ve answered the basics and are all set to go. What are some strategies to help get your “Pulitzer Prize” winning piece read? Ask your current members what they read. Going back to No. 4 above, you can ask them basic questions about what magazines they read and which sections.

 

Do they use e-mail at home and in the office? Do they subscribe to any e-news services? You also can ask how much research they conduct on the Internet and if they generally read beyond the first paragraph of online articles. Be sure to ask a few specific questions that will be helpful in your particular situation.

 

Write for the reader. It may be all about you before starting, but once you embark on the writing odyssey, you need to seat yourself in the target audiences’ reading chair and answer “what’s in it for them.”

 

Create an enticing title. A bold headline should not only explain exactly what the article is, but also provide a reason to read on. A play on words can sometimes be effective, but you don’t want to be overly clever. There is no worse reaction than someone scratching their head, murmuring, “huh?”

 

Sum it up in the lead paragraph. You’ve seen dismal statistics about the media clutter and how little time is spent by the actual readership skimming through each issue. Gone are the days when people poured over publications page by page. You don’t want the reader to feel “cheated” after spending the time to read the introductory paragraph. Briefly outline the problem and how to fix it at the beginning of the article.

 

Place a byline under the title. The author’s name may never be seen at the end of the article if the reader never reads beyond the first paragraph. However, you can usually include a brief bio at the end of the article that gets recognition for the association as well as the author.

 

Tell a story. Talk about real problems and how to go about addressing them. Relate a story that the reader could possibly identify with and provide practical solutions. Readers will be much more interested if they feel they can apply this technique to their situation, because you’ve shown that it has worked for their peers.

 

Try collaborative marketing. In the case of associations, what companies are targeting the same organizations or their members? If you are talking about high-end printing machines, you might be able to incorporate critical advice in your article from a banking partner for the lease, an accountant’s amortization or depreciation schedule, IT suggestions for linking into the network and so forth.

 

Review editorial schedules. Get a copy of a publication’s editorial calendar and select the best issue in which to appear. This advance planning helps you set your production schedule for writing.

 

Incorporate current events. If you are going to make a point of reference, avoid 25-year-old case studies unless they are still relevant.

 

Compile an article archive. Start putting together story ideas, background resource materials and your organization’s information that can be incorporated into future writing assignments. After all, it is much easier to edit and expand upon existing notes than starting from scratch each time.

 

Outsource writing when it makes sense to do so. Let’s face it, until you have an archive of articles in the vault, writing diverts time away from catching up on e-mail correspondence, courting clients on the golf course and meeting with the accountant. If you don’t have a full-time communications person on your staff, you can hire a talented freelancer for the writing mission.

 

Proof it for readability. Run the article by someone outside the industry to see if they come away with a basic understanding of what you’re writing about.

Now put your best pen forward, and may your articles be reader magnets.

 

This article was published in “FALL 2004: 501(c) Publishing.” Reproduced with the permission of McNeill Group, Inc.

Bookmark and Share
 Posted by ABS at 9:35 am  Tagged with:
 Newer Entries
© 2012 ABS News Center Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha