As we roll into the last quarter of 2020, the magnitude of the challenges we have faced this year is monumental. With a pandemic still raging, climate change fueling disasters, and social and political unrest swirling, it is hard as association professionals to know how to move from one crisis to another to keep our associations running and our staff and members engaged.  It is also hard to know which crisis to prioritize while keeping an eye on each of the others.

As you may have noticed this past year, NYSAE has become a full-throated voice for associations and our goal has been to grow our members, engage them with a variety of programs and resources, and most importantly to chart a course leading into the future.  One path to NYSAE’s future stands out. Here’s where association executives can make a difference.

At the beginning of my term in June, society was reeling from the murder of George Floyd and the ongoing systemic racism that his death highlighted.  Working with the NYSAE Board of Directors, we identified Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as a priority for our organization.  We built a task force, led by Rhonda Payne and Dr. Robert Spangler and the group is hard at work developing an action plan.  A sneak peek at their work includes recommendations such as positioning NYSAE as a resource to its members with DEI materials from member organizations including tools on governance, professional development, policies and actions.  They will recommend that the Nominations Committee recruit a diverse slate of officers and Board members.  NYSAE will be charged with ensuring all committee chairs are integrating DEI memberships, activities, and programs.  Speakers will represent diverse communities.  These recommendations just touch the surface of the work they have planned.  I look forward to an engaged discussion by our Board and will report back to you on our next steps.

NYSAE stands for inclusion and opportunities for all. It is our goal to focus on this and to help our members on their diversity, equity and inclusion journey as well.  Please contact us and give us your thoughts on how we can make this journey together one that will not be fleeting but instead one that will move all of us to lead purpose-led associations that express a voice for change.  To make an impact on others we must continue to do better ourselves.  We must be bold and intentional in acting on these issues for our associations, our people and our communities.

Relevant associations take on issues where they can make a difference.  To solve important problems, we must work to support equal opportunities at all levels of our organizations.  More of us must come to understand that DEI is not just about treating people the same, it is also about providing equal opportunities and access and knocking down barriers to that access.

There is collective power in numbers.  That is the purpose of associations.  Let us use our power to lead the association sector to achieve diversity, equity and inclusion as examples of what can be done.

This year has been a challenging year. There is still a lot of history to be made.  Wouldn’t it be monumental for associations to lead the way?  Join us.  Become a member.  Become part of our journey.

 

Sincerely, 

Joanne Barry, CAE, Executive Director and CEO, New York State Society of CPAs