Welcome to the New Year!

From the Board Chair

As we enter a new year for our businesses and for AMCI, I am so excited about our future.  AMCI has a very dynamic strategic plan and we are working hard to insure we reach the goals and objectives we have targeted.  One of the opportunities to experience and share thought-leadership will be at the upcoming Annual Meeting. I hope you have already made plans to join us in Miami.  However, even if you can’t attend the meeting, AMCI offers many other opportunities for us to build our businesses.  It’s a matter of engaging to take full advantage of what your trade association has to offer....in the end it’s really up to you.      

When I was in college, many years ago, I spent my summers as a 4-H Camp counselor overseeing and herding hundreds of young boys and girls during their 5 day experience at camp.  Each counselor had a cabin of 10-15 kids that they visited before lights out to tell a story and get them charged up for the week (which didn’t take much)! 

Every Monday night I would tell my kids the story of the young lad who wanted to trick the wise old man in their town.  The young lad walked up to the old man and said, "Old man I have a little bird in my hand. If you are so wise tell me – is it dead or is it alive?" The old man thought for a minute and said – "it is whatever you make it." For the wise old man knew if he said the bird was alive the young lad would squeeze his hands together and kill the bird – and if he said it was dead he would open his hand and the bird would fly away – so he wisely said  – "it is whatever you make it." 

As your 2015 Chair, I challenge you with the statement from the wise old man.  AMCI is your organization and it is whatever you make it.  We all manage associations and know that engaged members are the ones who truly benefit the most from their organization.  AMCI and your membership is no different.  I hope you ‘will make it’ a tremendous resource for you and your company.  The networking opportunities alone offer invaluable contacts to help you ‘make it’ whatever you want it to be.  AMC owners are always so open and willing to network and share their experiences – what worked in addition to what didn’t.  Be an active part of the community.  If you do you will be rewarded (I know I have been) and AMCI will offer you the best and brightest resources to help you "make" your company whatever you want it to be. 

I look forward to seeing everyone in Miami in a few weeks.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Chair this year.   

 

Charles