Spring Thinking
The perfect time to check in on our goals and re-energize top priorities.
In North America, the tradition of spring cleaning started in the 19th century, prior to the invention of the vacuum cleaner. March or April were often the best months for dusting one’s home since it was finally warm enough to open doors and windows to allow fresh air to come into the home.
Spring is also an opportune time to conduct spring cleaning of our businesses. With taxes behind us and flowers and trees blooming, it is time to set our sights on renewal, rebirth, and rededication.For the Society’s board of directors, we are using this spring to check in on our goals, to re-energize top priorities, and plan the second half of the fiscal year (yes, it is hard for me to believe that my term as president is half-way through).There are several things to report on to our members:
Vision and Education. Our new vision of Business Transformed Through Marketing Leadership has caused us to look closer at all programs to make sure we are not only providing the skills training that our members need, but also the leadership exposure they want. Our recent member survey indicated members desire more training on leadership and we are responding. Leadership is a hot topic and there have been speakers at all of the regional conferences presenting on several aspects of this topic.Build Business will delve into this theme in regular and roundtable sessions, and the President’s Leadership Symposium in April has several segments addressing leadership. In addition, our forthcoming senior member programs will have a solid focus on leadership.Brand Positioning. A new vision requires a refreshed brand position. The Society board recently engaged MilesHerndon to help us craft a new brand platform. This positioning process will be the launch pad for enhancing our communications and services, including a redesigned SMPS website, improved collateral for membership recruitment, and a better way for our members to talk to others about the value of SMPS. We will have this positioning work completed prior to the board’s planning session in June, and we expect to report our progress at Build Business in July.
Philanthropy Task Force. Consistent with expansion of the leadership theme, the board recently appointed a task force to explore how SMPS might engage in philanthropic endeavors. The task force will inform the board on its deliberations regarding the attributes, needs, and impacts of Society-sponsored or supported service projects. We asked the task force to investigate efforts already organized by chapters; evaluate whether or not programs support the SMPS vision; provide input regarding using Society resources (time and money) on endorsing, supporting and/or organizing projects; and, research generally, the desire for members to support community service efforts organized and/or supported by the Society’s HQ. Because we don’t yet have a formal vision for service projects, Side X Side, an activity offered at the Build Business conference, will not be organized this year. This was not an easy decision; however, we believe that we needed to look at philanthropy in a broader sense first.
There are lots of things going on at the Society level. We are working hard on your behalf to continue to move SMPS into the future and make your membership even more relevant to your success. Thank you for your involvement.
SMPS President Craig Galati, AIA, FSMPS, CPSM, is principal of LGA, in Las Vegas, NV. He can be reached at 702.263.7111 or cgalati@lgainc.com.
