By Nicole Millman-Falk
To better engage, serve, and support young professionals—association and nonprofit executives and suppliers to our industry who are under age 35—NYSAE’s Board of Directors established a Next Generation Task Group. The Task Group, initially to be co-chaired by Board members Eric Hertz, CAE, Staff Vice President and Director of Education, International Council of Shopping Centers, and Holly Koenig, Vice President, Kellen, will work to provide:
- Access to senior leaders of NYSAE;
- Mentorship opportunities;
- Affordable membership dues and registration fees for NYSAE programs; and
- A Next Generation Shared Interest Group.
"The Next Generation SIG, to be chaired by young professionals, will provide exposure, access, value, and relevant to the future decision makers of the association and nonprofit community," said Michael Weamer, President & CEO, The Marfan Foundation, and NYSAE Chair of the Board. "The Board sees this new initiative as a movement to regenerate NYSAE and to have people move up the ranks to NYSAE leadership," he told the crowd of 2015-16 committee members, who met in July to plan out NYSAE’s program year.
Committee members were asked to think beyond current boundaries when planning their year’s activities. They were asked to experiment and plan programs that will propel more seasoned, as well as Next Generation executives, into the future.
"If NYSAE did not exist and you were starting an organization today for association and nonprofit executives, what would it look like?" Weamer asked. "Don’t lose sight of the fact that this is your organization. It can be anything you want it to be. You are bound only by your thinking, your time, and your commitment."
Some out-of-the-box committee brainstorming followed. Plans for the year will unfold over the next month on NYSAE’s website, in future issues of InView, and on NYSAE’s social media channels—Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
"We have a great opportunity to do exciting new things to propel NYSAE forward," said Weamer. "Ultimately, it’s about bringing people together, enhancing their professional development skills and opportunities, and engaging them. That’s what we’re all about."
NYSAE Committee Retreat Gallery
Nicole Millman-Falk is President of Millman-Falk Communications, LLC, providing content development and strategic communication services for trade associations, professional societies, and donor-based organizations. In addition to her own company, she serves as Editor for Apogee Publications, which provides turnkey association newsletters, magazines, and membership directories. She is Editor of NYSAE's InView and is Chair of the Awards Committee. She can be reached at 201-652-1687; nicolemillmanfalk@gmail.com; or through her website at www.millmanfalkcommunications.com.