Come on Board

This is the time of year when we start the process of looking for new board members and I would like all of you to consider putting your name in the hat and running for the Board in May.

Remember the WWI image of Uncle Sam with his finger extended while the caption says, “I want you.” In this case, it is your trade association that wants you. We want you to serve on the Board of Trustees because without volunteers, our association can not function. Truly, we do need you.

Here’s why:

By definition, an association is as member driven organization created to serve the interests of its members. It all started with members. There were members before there was a staff. You (the members) are the center of the organization, the reason why we exist.

Founded in 1947, the association now has 858 members. There is no way that 858 companies meet regularly and provide leadership and governance for the organization. Hence the need for a smaller group to set: policy, direction and provide the vision for the association. Today that is done by 13 Board Members who meet monthly. The group includes four officers: Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary-Treasurer and Immediate Past-chair along with nine other members.

Each year in May, the Active Members receive ballots and elect three new board members who then serve three-year terms and three Board Members retire from the Board at the end of June.

The Board meets at noon on the 3rd Thursday of each month here at the NMTA office. A week ahead of time, staff sends the board the agenda for the meeting as well as a monthly financial report, committee minutes and various hand-outs and reports. Meetings usually last 2 hours.

I’ve been here now for almost 8 ½ years which means that I have attended almost 100 Board Meetings so I know the format inside and out. If you were to run for the board and get elected, here is what you’d experience at your first meeting. It’s very informal and everyone tries to make the meetings fun as well as productive. The Board reviews the financial report for the month, approves minutes from the prior meeting and then moves through an agenda where staff and Board Members give reports on issues facing the organization. Throughout the meeting, Board Members are asked for input in guidance from their perspective.

The purpose of the meetings is to make sure that staff is making progress toward the goals set out in the Annual Business Plan as well as making any “policy” decisions for the organization. Staff (and that includes me) are charged with the responsibility for running the association on a daily basis, while the Board is guiding the organization from a “big picture” standpoint.

I hope this gives you a good understanding about what the Board does and therefore why we need the absolute best and brightest men and women in our industry to serve on the Board. Here is the best way to sum it all up: the Board sets the vision and then keeps a gentle hand on the helm throughout the year to make sure the organization stays on course.

If you are interested in running for the Board this year, please fill out the form on page 5 and return it no later than March 20. At the end of the month, a five-person Board Nominating Committee, made up of three Board Members as well as representatives from the membership at large will meet to come up with the best six candidates to run for the three open positions.

Ballots are sent out May 1 each year and are due on the first Friday in June; the results announced that day. The three new board members start serving their 3-year terms beginning the following month on July 1.

I hope each and every one of you will consider running. If you are interested, contact me or one of the current Board Members. They are all listed on our website www.nmta.net. I can guarantee you that if you are elected by the membership to serve on the Board that you will find it educational, challenging and rewarding.

One of my personal beliefs is, “If it is going to be… it is up to me.” In this case, “If it is going to be (at the NMTA) it is up to YOU.” Come on Board.

With warm regards,

Michael Campbell
President
michael@nmta.net