Paying It Forward

"The value of anything can be determined by how much of your time and life you are willing to trade for it."

- Brian Tracy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Day EWI!

 

Happy International Women's Day to each and every one of my sisters in EWI!  I hope you take at least a moment today to reflect on the blessings you enjoy each day, where you began and all of those who helped inspire you along the way!

 

This week I took part in a very sad conversation that I want to share some details of with you in the hopes that we can all learn from the pain and frustration of others.  We have another Chapter considering to cease operations after more than 50 years of history and success.  This literally breaks my heart to hear.  The issue is a lack of member representatives willing to step forward into leadership roles, yet again.  Trust me, each of them have all done their part in the past by serving, but they just cannot continue without identified Officers in place to carry on.

 

Those of us attending the call went in "fully prepared" with lists of new firms in their communities, pledges of support and leads from nearby Chapters and a concrete plan of the steps that were taken last year in the successful re-building of another Chapter.  However, all of that is fine, but the reality for this Chapter is that there are no future leaders waiting in the wings.

 

It has been my observation in EWI that one woman can indeed start a Chapter, but one woman cannot save a Chapter alone.  The current President shared something with all of us on the call and that is what I want to share specifically with you as it really resonated with me.  She said, "If only we had realized the importance of having a successor from within our own Firms involved in the Chapter, this would not be happening now."  You see, all of their current member representatives started out with EWI early in their careers and now, they have been promoted or grown into ever-expanding roles that just do not afford them the time to commit to EWI as they once did.

 

These member representatives all love and are passionate about EWI.  They have all benefited tremendously from their involvement over the years.  I would hazard a guess to say that some of the new found success in their careers was, in fact, a result of their EWI involvement.  What they failed to do, was "pay it forward" by encouraging another young professional colleague to step forward for membership to also represent their firm.  If you are not actively engaged in your Chapter, learning new skills, is there someone else next to you who could benefit additionally, or more?

 

Succession planning is critical, not only for member associations but for all businesses as baby boomers start to retire.  Our own demographics are showing the shift.  We have 7% more member representatives that are 46+ than we did just four years ago.  I read a stat recently that said that less than 30% of private companies have an identified successor in place even though the retirement of the Founder is less then 10 years away.  While this means great opportunity for those wishing to purchase a successful company, the reality is that the majority of those businesses will just close their doors.  EWI cannot have any more doors close!

 

We must make recruitment our number one priority and introduce EWI to the next generation of professionals who are waiting to receive the rewards of EWI.  Do you work with someone you want to see succeed?  I encourage you to sit down and share with them the benefits you have realized through your involvement with this wonderful organization.  Tell your story!  Pay it forward by finding someone else who will step into your shoes before you retire from your Firm or get so busy you can't commit to engaging in Chapter operations. 

The board, office and I are doing everything we can to help ease Chapter operations.  We have a committee in place this year strictly looking at ways that can help ease the burden and allow us to work more efficiently.  We are committed to making things as simple as we can for our Chapter board members.

 

As to the future of this particular Chapter, I am remaining hopeful that they can find someone from within to step forward to lead them through a rebuilding process.  They were all going to gather next week to discuss the options further.  They will be in my thoughts and prayers and I hope they will be in yours. 

So, in closing today, I would just like to suggest that the "Rewards" of EWI membership have in fact been a very well travelled road over the past 75 years, but it is time to double the lanes ladies and gentlemen.  I challenge each and every one of you to bring a colleague to your Chapter's April meeting along with your Executive. April is where each of our Chapters will celebrate their individual histories, but also our greater one as a whole.  "Empowering others for positive change!" 

Wishing you a wonderful spring weekend!
- K