Newsletter
Home > Newsletter > Current Newsletter

Newsletter - June 2009

President's Message – IQ vs. EQ Hire Smart People Who Understand More Than Just the Job
by G.A. Taylor Fernley, President & CEO

In the business world, we are always looking for ways to gain a competitive advantage. For many years, organizations thought that bright, intelligent people were the key to superior performance. But "book smarts," in the form of high IQs or stellar GPAs, we now know do not always translate to equally exemplary job performance. The connection is limited at best. An intelligence quotient (IQ) is best defined as a measurement of cognitive capacity--one's ability to think and reason. Interestingly enough, IQs usually do not change much after the age of 12 to 15. Many jobs in today's workplace require an above-average IQ; that is, they have "a high IQ threshold." But hiring people with high IQs is again not a guarantee that they will perform well in the position.
Read more

The Value of Professional Organizations, Overview
By Sarah Hagy, Executive Director

Ever heard the phrase, "it's all about who you know?" With job availability stagnant, unemployment rates on the rise, insecurity in the marketplace, and tightening budgets, key relationships are becoming more and more important to professional success. Associations are often the first place people turn to when seeking employment and/or new business opportunities. So have you made the proper investment within your association to yield returns in your time of need?
Read more

Virtual Meetings
By Angela Musial, Meeting Manager

There's no doubt the current recession has changed the business communications landscape. With less income on both sides (associations and members), organizations are being smarter and savvier in their choices about how they spend their time and money. This year alone we all saw a significant decrease in meeting attendance, some up to 50%. While we are hopeful that 2010 will show a brighter forecast, we need to focus on doing more with less and at the same time continue our commitment to quality programming. Virtual meetings have found a home with associations as they provide the immediate access and enhanced communications that our members demand.
Read more

Non-Dues Revenue
By Chris Harrington

The current slowdown in the U.S. economy has distressed many Americans where it counts, their pockets. Spending on non-essentials has come to a screeching halt. Most are too afraid to commit to something without a guarantee, and with that the number of new members joining associations has dropped, not to mention a noticeable decrease in membership renewals. Associations must find creative ways to increase their revenue without relying on their members to bear the burden of higher membership dues and other fees.
Read more

Social Networking
By Rebecca Mathis, Associate Director

Technology has made it much simpler for associations, businesses and individuals to connect to one another. Social networking refers to the community or audience that you are targeting, while social media refers to the promotional tools that are used to generate a social network. The internet allows for a wide variety of social networking opportunities. The most network friendly sites for businesses or organizations are Xing, Fast Pitch, and Blogger. These sites allow you to create an organization profile, and take advantage of the technology to connect to other interested organizations or prospective members. They also provide resources to post classified ads, link to your other social networking platforms, and view detailed profiles with photos, videos, and press releases.
Read more

###

Volunteer Leadership Today is produced quarterly as a service to the non-profit community that Fernley & Fernley, Inc. has served for well over a century. Articles or statements appearing herein are presented for informational purposes and do not constitute legal opinion, advice or judgment, and should not be relied upon as such. Inquiries or comments should be directed to info@fernley.com. For more information on Fernley & Fernley, Inc. and the professional services we offer visit our web site at www.fernley.com or call (215) 564-3484. © 2008 Fernley & Fernley, Inc.