SAN LUIS OBISPO ANNUAL MEETING WILL STRESS INNOVATION

“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” Niccolo Machiavelli

EXCOM members and chapter presidents who attend the upcoming November 30-December 2, 2007 Council of Presidents annual meeting in San Luis Obispo will be able to explore creativity, innovation, and planned change in formal and informal sessions alike.

In this sense, change is a transition from one state, condition, or phase to another. To cause to be different. Indeed, it’s important to make a difference.

The Council and affiliated chapters are facing some rather significant internal and external environmental changes, the legal/political, social/cultural, technological, and economic factors as well as personal capability forces of directors, officers, and members.

Think recruiting difficulties, leadership challenges, level of member participation, with transition from TROA to MOAA center front.

And there is resistance to change. But that’s ok for two reasons, (1) it forces change initiators to justify the reasons for needed changes, and sometimes this prevents poorly thought out or unjustified changes, and (2) it prevents great and rapid swings in organizational strategies or style, providing a needed balance to impulsive action.

There will be plenty of time at San Luis Obispo to explore the leader’s change management responsibilitie, to determine specifically how others successfully carried out these tasks.

–Providing members with official, authoritative policy and guidance;
–Forcefully suppressing turbulance and unplanned change;
–Taking the lead in identifying appropriate change for the Council or chapter and serve as an advocate for change imposed by the organization;
–Providing motivation for members to change;
–Personifying stability and the idea of ordered change;
–Implementing the change and managing the transition/conflict process;
–Being visible, providing a sense of control.

Those attending the annual meeting are encouraged to submit items for the agenda well in advance, hopefully prior to 1 November, and be prepared to offer resolutions or motions for consideration and action.

No matter what you’re doing, there’s probably a better way to do it. Plan to consider change at this year’s annual meeting. And plan to make a difference.

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