CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN
One Member + One Vote = One Voice By Mark Mettes, CFE
I appreciate the opportunity to address you again as the Chair of the Board for IAVM. First, let me say that I’m really looking forward to seeing so many of you at the new VenueConnect in Nashville. Someone said that we could easily call it Member-Connect, and what better way to demonstrate that IAVM is creating connections for life than at this conference. Whether you are there for PAMC programming, something for everyone. I can’t wait to see all of the individual sector programming as well as the industry-wide keynote and the new trade- show. Karen Totaro, CFE, at VenueConnect in Minneapolis, but since then there has been no shortage of incredible activity and progress in many areas, all of which point to the fact that it is a great time to be a mem- ber of IAVM. Now you may just think that I’m supposed to say that as someone on the Board, but I truly believe it. There are many reasons that I can say this, including the fact that we have a dynamic and tireless president and CEO who has done so much to push the organization forward, including growing and nurturing collaborations that are already posi- tively impacting our members. Another reason it is a great time to be a member: the numbers prove
it. We have a record number of IAVM members as more and more people join while our retention rate continues to be above industry norms. Through both the new collaborations and the growing membership,
we have created opportunities to improve our industry and our knowl- edge base through the diversity of thought. As we have seen in our own organizations, everyone has an important viewpoint and ideas that can help create solutions. As Richard Anderson, CFE, would of- ten say when he was Chair of the Board, “None of us are as smart as all of us.” We are focused on creating opportunities to engage the diverse membership for the sake of the industry. Even as we look at our own membership that includes distinctions for Professional, Young Profes- sionals, Honorary, Retired, Allied, Faculty, Student, and associated members, we recognized that very often there isn’t a distinct line as members move from one position to another and one status to another. This is clearly seen as private management companies diversify their direct involvement in venues. Although a member’s status may change several times, their knowledge of the industry and interest in IAVM doesn’t.
That is part of the thought process behind the One Member, One
Vote initiative that, hopefully, you have been hearing about. Through this initiative, we want to celebrate and take advantage of our diverse membership and provide an important opportunity to be more inclu- sive as an organization by allowing all of us to be voting members, regardless of the distinction of our membership. Diversity is necessary for good decision making, both at our own organizations and with our Association. This did not come together without a great deal of thought and consideration. In fact, this initiative was the result of over two years of looked at by the Membership Committee, a Membership Task Force, study and input, the initiative evolved to what it is today and pushed for a more inclusive voting process. It is important to note that from the beginning, this has been a Board driven process and initiative. asked to take advantage of that right, and I would add, to vote to give it to others who are currently denied that right. This will help the gen- eral membership by allowing everyone to be engaged in the Associa- tion in this way. As we engage all of our members, we demonstrate the commitment to everyone that their opinion and voice matters, which helps IAVM stay at the forefront of the industry. Currently, approximately 77 percent of our membership can vote as
Professional Members. This initiative impacts only retired, honorary, young professionals, faculty and Allied members, many of whom are already involved with teaching at IAVM schools or on our committees. There is a lot more information about this initiative on the IAVM web- site at
IAVM.org. This will help you to understand the importance of this initiative in helping our organization be positioned for the future in a way that is increasingly common among associations. However, it is very important to understand that this initiative will
not change who IAVM is as an organization. We always have been and always will be focused on venue professionals. This will not change our name, status, or our mission for you, our members. As IAVM has continued to grow our membership, now more than 5,000 strong, we are arguably the most diverse that our Association has ever been in our 90-plus year history. Through your support of this initiative, we can make IAVM more inclusive than ever as well. FM
Mark Mettes, CFE, is president and CEO of Phoenix, Arizona’s Herberger The- ater Center and is IAVM’s 2016-2017 board chair.
IAVM 11
Photo provided by Mark Mettes
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