Being a Curious George!

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots".

- Marcus Garvey

Good Day!

Have you ever had the experience of knowing you are on the brink of discovering something profound?  Goosebumps, a flutter in your tummy, adrenalin rushing at what you are sure is going to an "AHA" moment?  Well, this week I had that wonderful experience and I am so excited to share it with you today!

Last week I was on Facebook and saw a post by Anne Marie Poltarek, EWI of Detroit-Windsor.  It was a picture of her at a local event hosted by the Detroit Executives Association, toasting an Executive from one of their "member firms", the Detroit Red Wings.  Now, granted I am a Wings fan when my Calgary Flames don't show up to play, which sadly is more often than not, even when there is a hockey season!

What struck me about Anne Marie's post though was the association...Detroit Executives Association.  I emailed her and asked, "Do you think this could be the original association that our Founder Lucille Johnson-Perkins modelled Executives Secretaries after in 1938?  We know Lucille was encouraged by her Executive, who was a member of the San Francisco Executives Association.  I decided to be a "Curious George" and do some investigating.

Yes, indeed, Detroit Executives Association is part of International Executives Association, which was founded in San Francisco in 1916.  They now have 110 "Chapters" worldwide.  When I found the website for IEA (www.ieaweb.com) I was immediately struck at the similarities between them and EWI.  The language and concept is so similar....one firm per business category, a mission to support each other's firms and like us they also received a citation for war bond sales during WWII to name just a few.

I was even further blown away when I looked at where they are located.  In Edmonton, Alberta, just a three hours drive away from me.  Even more exciting is that two of their Corporate Board members currently serving are from Calgary.

On Tuesday, I reached out via phone call to their Managing Director, Betty Adams.  She had no idea of this history but did confirm that National Lead was a member firm of Executives Association of San Francisco back in 1938.  They too used to meet at the Drake Hotel. 

So, after a long conversation sharing each other's history and current state, we determined that Betty would come down one Wednesday for an EWI of Calgary Chapter meeting, but in the meantime, would put me in touch with the two Corporate Directors for IEA here in Calgary.  She agreed there is such a profound potential for a strategic alliance between the two organizations.  They need Executives and we need firm representatives.  Cross-promotion, advertising, guest speakers are just a few potential ideas we came up with in just a few minutes.

Another intriguing practice their Chapters have is that they post those industries where they currently have openings on their website.  Something we too should be doing at the Chapter level.

Lucille grew Executive Secretaries by writing letters to Executives in other Chapters of IEA.  I always wondered how we grew so fast and established Chapters overseas, and I am sure it was largely due to the support members of IEA gave.  How exciting that we can perhaps re-establish that partnership and common endorsement of one another!  I will be sure to keep all of you up to speed as things progress with IEA.

So, curiosity does not always kill the cat!  Sometimes it pays to delve into something without knowing the outcome.  Why not take the opportunity of the upcoming holiday season to reach out to those firms who helped build your Chapter's history?  Thank them for their past support, share with them some of the exciting things you have happening in your Chapter's and invite them to re-connect with EWI!

In closing, I want to wish all of our American members a glorious Thanksgiving next week.  May you all be surrounded with your loved ones!

- K