Having One of Those Days?

Have you ever had one of those days? You know what I mean...one of those days - where you don’t feel inspired to keep at it, stick to it, hang in there, and not give up. I suspect each of us has a quiet moment when we let this thinking overtake us for a moment. Or even longer.

Just as I have a habit of collecting subject lines and newspaper headlines that I like (ever since high school), I also keep a "keeper" file. It used to be a manila file, then it became a plastic sleeve, then a large file folder in the cabinet, and now the keeper file is on my desktop. It contains sayings of all kinds, but each of them hit home at some moment. So in my sub-file called “one of those days” there are some sayings that help keep me going.

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” - Theodore Roosevelt

"Whenever you see a successful business, someone made a courageous decision.” - Peter Drucker

"All I ask is this: Do something. Try something. Speaking out, showing up, writing a letter, a check, a strongly worded e-mail. Pick a cause -- there are few unworthy ones. And nudge yourself past the brink of tacit support to action. Once a month, once a year, or just once." - Joss Whedon

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” - William James

"Going one more round when you don't think you can. That's what makes all the difference in the world." - Rocky Balboa

And at the last COCSA meeting I heard one of the best yet:

"You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. Let’s roll up our sleeves." - Kate Rufolo-Dreher, Incoming President, Congress of Chiropractic State Associations

In a moment when you are tempted to throw up your hands thinking you’ve done all you can, and need a little inspiration, perhaps this will be a start, or an addition to your keeper file.

Having One of Those Days?

Explaining Member Benefits

It can be a challenge to help members connect the dots about the benefits of their association membership.

We know from studies conducted at ASAE and other sources that members join an association for two overarching reasons: for their personal benefit and for the good of the profession.

Yesterday, a real life story helped me put my arms around a sometimes-intangible benefit called legislative affairs. Most associations consider governmental or legislative affairs a primary member benefit. How to explain this in a way the newest member can understand?

My husband, Dan Sight, a commercial REALTOR®, flew from Kansas to Washington, DC at the request of the National Association of REALTORS® to speak to the United States Senate subcommittee on banking about the state of the commercial real estate market.

The lobbyists prepped him, got him to the Senate Chamber on time, because they wanted a REALTOR®, not a lobbyist to "testify".

Before I go any further, remember that we should focus on three important decisions before starting to write:

• Who is your target audience?
• What does the news means to them?
• What is the goal of the message?

Here is what I would say to every commercial member of an association about the value of being a member of the National Association of REALTORS®:

Have you ever wondered about the power of an organization with 1.1 million members to a commercial REALTOR®?


Today, the Senate subcommittee on banking heard from Dan Sight, Chair of the Commercial Committee of NAR, about the state of commercial real estate lending. Dan is not an officer of NAR; he is just a caring, involved volunteer leader who supports his industry and his fellow practitioners.


The meeting provided a direct line of communication from the real estate industry to government officials - efforts that will sustain the viability of the business for all members. In other words, conversations like this can change the future for the better for your profession, your buyers, renters, and sellers. It can change banking laws, lending laws, taxes, and other conditions that affect the commercial real estate market and your ability to be successful.


If you were an 80,000-member commercial association (and not part of NAR), you may not have a seat at the table.

• The target audience – commercial members
• What the news means to them – the association influences important decisions for their business
• The goal of the message – to explain the power of a collective membership in fighting for members.

Whether your industry is real estate or not, this link is just as important in your association. Explain local member benefits and national activities. Link them to what members want and need. This is a clear and direct way that might just get through to busy, distracted, and sometimes indifferent members.

Explaining Member Benefits

Play Back What You Learned for a Payback to Your Members

After attending two well-run conferences this past week, I am energized by your open minds. Your willingness to share, and the time you spent together  will better your associations.

Organizations make an investment to bring staff and volunteer leaders together. These conferences were full of excellent programming, collaboration, and networking.

It occurred to me while riding the down escalator this morning: Let’s face it, member dues are in some part what makes meetings like this work. How do members back home get an ROI from your time at the conference? How can leaders and staff best communicate back your learnings from the week? And what will you change for the better?

Association staff, you are better at what you do because of what you learned. Communications directors spent the better part of two days in “continuing education”. The sessions were intense. Can you identify two or three gems that you will take home with you? Will you write them down and share them with your counterparts? Will you apply the knowledge to connect better with your members or fall back into your old ways?

Association leaders spent a lot of time talking, listening, thinking, and collaborating at this meeting. You are in idea overload. Can you find the energy to report to your staff and even your members about the best information you bring home with you? Can you think of two ideas that are worth pursuing that you never though of before?

Being there is not enough. Representing your members is not enough. I wish you the determination to communicate what’s in it for the member. Make sure your members know the changes you make. That’s a return on both your and their investment.

Play Back What You Learned for a Payback to Your Members