2016 Lessons Learned from 7 Associations

People often ask me, “What does SCD Group do?”

As I look back on 2016, a recap might help while offering lessons for other associations and nonprofits.

STRATEGIC PLANNING 

Using the strategic intent planning model, I guided five (5) national nonprofits in envisioning their futures and/or reviewing their existing strategic plans. In each assignment, I began with a survey of planning participants, association leaders and/or a random sample of members. The survey data helps me plan the planning as well as provide association leaders insight into their organization. The associations I worked with included:

• Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)
• American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA)
• National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC)
• Project Evergreen
• Society of Government Meeting Planners (SGMP)

As part of their strategic intent, three of the associations decided they needed to pursue changing the organization’s name as their changing profession made the current name somewhat “obsolete.”

Change Created Chaos Impacts Associations

Change is all around. Some respond better than others. Association boards and association executives have the Duty of Foresight. That means a duty to the organization to monitor trends and adjust association strategies to fit the changes.

A recent trip through the Kansas City airport highlights three changes that illustrate how – without modification – change creates chaos.

Airport Security

Arriving/departing the KC airport (MCI) is a stark reminder how change creates chaos.

MCI was perfectly designed with three “semi-circle shaped” hubs that provided easy access from parking and gates. No long terminal hallways.

Then massive changes resulted from hijackers and terrorists that resulted in new security processes and TSA screeners.