90p Admin

I would like to suggest that we arrange an in person get together to hash out the future of the group - what's our mission, what's our direction, where are we going? I think that we have a tremendous opportunity in front of us for growth of we want to seize it. Or we can just keep on keeping on ... Some topics that I would like to address: 1. What is our mission? I think I know what it is but would like to have agreement. 2. What does our future look like? 3. How do we fulfill that mission? 3a. What are our member services? 3b. What are our vendor member services? 4. Is it time for a full-time person to do the routine administrative tasks - and possibly improve our marketing and outreach programs? I think a full-time person could take on 80% of what the admin board does right now. Plus, they would be able to deliver additional member benefits. 5. What is stopping us from doing a customer conference? Most of our partner members don't do end user conferences even though end user conferences are a known way to generate additional services and customer satisfaction. Would any of you be interested in getting together for a weekend or a few days during the week in April or May to hash this stuff out?

I'll be in Florida for ITA. If anyone wants an in person get together meet me there. Otherwise see you in NOLA

My concerns are: 1. We are volunteer and have a lot on our plate 2. Hiring a full time person - please advise what the plan is for someone to supervise and direct that person? I suspect it will be similar to our current strategy of ""well let's see how it works out"" 3. We are a 501(c)6 business trade association made up predominately of Sage partners - it would a lot of work to take on another product of any size when we are still fine tuning our Sage offerings That being said - I am 1,000% for hiring an administrator so long as I'm not the person to supervise. I would like to pass the baton.

In response: 1. Exactly why I'm suggesting we hire someone to administer the day to day. We can't keep complaining that nothing is getting done and yet be unwilling to change. 2. You need a hug. 3. I didn't mention picking up another product. I'm talking about putting a line under our mission statement and figuring out what services we offer to fulfill that mission. Regarding supervision, we can look at it as a client project plan. We define the deliverables and expected results, communicate that to the person, and measure success (or failure) against that. By restructuring it this way, our Admin meetings can be more about what we are doing and structuring the tasks so the full-time person can succeed with them.

I agree. Time to create a paid staff position to shoulder the load. Scott Hickman has a cabin in the Ozarks that we can use for the meeting. A central location, away from the day to day stuff. We could focus on our mission. Maybe learn to water ski.......

I'm all in on turning over my duties to a staff position. Just let me know when and where. I'm not available to manage them so that baton is also being passed.

Duly noted.

@PeterWolf - Have you had a chance to look at your calendar yet?