I Had No Idea!!

Now before you question yourself as to why you would vote for someone as naive as me for your President, please hear me out.

I would consider my involvement in PEI over my many years in business as “somewhat involved.” I’ve served on the Board of Directors a couple of different times; I have participated in different 10-Groups over many years; I’ve served on a couple of committees and, during the last two years, as PEI’s Treasurer and Vice President. Not bad, but admittedly not comparable to many who have contributed much more to the organization.

You would think that with this experience, I would have a better understanding of how our organization works. None of my previous experience prepared me for what I discovered at the PEI Headquarters in Tulsa when I visited in late fall. It is customary for the incoming President to spend a couple of days in Tulsa to view the facilities, meet the staff and compile a list of candidates to serve on all committees.

Over time, I’ve had the opportunity to meet for short periods with some of the staff at various functions. Obviously, Bob Renkes and Connie Dooley are the most visible staff to most members, and my past activities allowed me the opportunity to get to know them fairly well. Anyone who has met the two of them and spent any time at all with them will tell you that our association is in truly good hands.

But on this occasion, I was afforded the opportunity to meet the rest of the group. It was a privilege to sit down and talk with the rest of the PEI staff. The “unsung heroes” of PEI are truly dedicated to our organization, and I can’t begin to explain how impressed I was. Many have been there for years and their experience is one of the reasons our organization has been so successful. To ensure continuity in our program, Bob and Connie have brought in some “new blood” to learn from the others, ensuring that we will remain in good hands down the road. I strongly recommend that each and every member visit our headquarters, as I am sure you will be as impressed as I was.

Our association also benefits from the efforts of the Data Key Communications staff located in Syracuse, New York. They function as an extension of the Tulsa staff and work hand in hand with them to deliver this magazine with the sole purpose being to promote the interests of our members.

While I was in Tulsa, part of my task was the compilation of a list of candidates to serve on the standing committees and RP committees. And how many committees are there, you ask? Sixteen in all, consisting of Executive, Election, Strategic Long Range Planning, Exhibitor & Convention Advisory, Education, Safety, Young Executive, Insurance committees, and nine Recommended Practices committees. The Executive, Election and SLRP are made up of specific members of the current and past officers, but the rest must be appointed on a yearly basis. Each committee consists of a chairperson and 8-12 members. This year, we have a total of 153 committee members, and I have close to a dozen more people who have volunteered to serve on a committee when and if needed. This is what I find amazing: Over 150 people volunteer their time away from their businesses, time away from their families, and pay all of their own travel expenses, including airfare and lodging. (Yeah, we feed ’em, but what are you going to do?)  It’s even more incredible that historically we get about 95-100% participation at all meetings.

Depending upon the activity of each committee, these groups meet at least once a year and, in many cases, more than once. The RP committee members’ contribution is second to none. These people meet for days at a time to create the Recommended Practice manuals we all use to help operate our businesses. Yes, PEI hires a consultant who writes a rough draft of the manual, but make no mistake, your fellow members are responsible for the content of the manual.

And don’t forget those who serve on the Board of Directors. They attend at least two annual meetings, are consulted on various matters during their term and are expected to maintain contact with their respective delegation. They too pay all of their own expenses.

So to say “I had no idea” is by no means an overstatement. I did not realize how much work went on during the course of a year at PEI. This is truly an organization that enjoys the success that comes directly from its active membership and its excellent staff.

If you have not had the opportunity to serve on a PEI committee or as a director on the board, I encourage you to volunteer. Your contributions of ideas and time will be welcomed. It is a very rewarding experience and I promise you that you will never regret it. Feel free to contact me or any of the staff in Tulsa.

As I said in my acceptance speech in Atlanta, I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to pay something back to an organization and industry that has been so good to me and my family.

2008 is here. In this special edition of your member magazine, over 160 industry professionals have shared their thoughts on what is in store for us. (If you have additional thoughts, call me.) My only advice to you is to hunker down and give ’em hell.

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The PEI Journal • First Quarter 2008 • Volume 2, No. 1 • Contents are Copyright © Data Key Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved. • Nothing may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the publisher.