Dear Member:

I came to the association industry not really understanding what it was all about. After seven years in the Air Force, launching and flying military satellites, I had gone to work as a regional director for a conservation organization. From there, I moved to Denver and became the Executive Director of the National Bison Association. Two of the benefits included in the contract were a membership to the Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). This was the first I had heard of either of these two groups.

I am sure that I would have eventually learned about both of these groups on my own, but having that language in the contract sure was a nice shortcut. Over the years, I believe that I’m finally starting to understand the intricacies of the association world. It is truly amazing and is something that can’t be understood from the outside. You must immerse yourself in the culture to really grasp the value.

Many of us are “time-starved”. Between family, work, recreation, and personal requirements, 24 hours seems hardly enough. In fact, I’ve often thought that I should start a petition to change the length of a day to 30 hours. As soon as I find out the responsible agency to send it too, I may do just that – if I can find the time.

Another reality we all face is the ever-growing information age. We have so much data at our fingertips that it seems like we can quickly become semi-experts on any topic we so choose.

These two factors often work together. Because of our perceived lack of time, and all the information available to us via our keyboards, we often really believe that we can sit outside of the reality and learn what we need to know. I believe that this is false. I think that the only way to really learn is to become involved in the activity. I know that I have gained more from CSAE by being an involved, participatory member, than I ever could have learned via Google.

CSAE provides a variety of opportunities, using an assortment of tools, and delivered via many different mediums and methods to help us become better at what we do. I hope you take the time to review our mission, vision, and guiding principles along with all the CSAE member services printed in this directory. I hope you see the value being offered to you and become more involved in CSAE during the next year.

Sam Albrecht, CAE
President