|
|
Ernest E. Nolan's AITP Vision Speech
Ernest E. Nolan's AITP Vision Speech
What follows is a copy of the speech that Association President Ernest E. Nolan made during a 1998 Region 18 luncheon. In the speech, Ernest shares with us his vision for AITP's future.
AITP has been characterized by many, myself included, as a ship adrift at sea without sail or rudder, taken to and fro by the winds, the tides, and the currents. Why?
Because we lack definition, purpose, and direction! The first question that we must answer is, why do we exist? What is our purpose? Hold that thought, I will get back to it!
There are many among us that say we cannot change direction, that we cannot control our own destiny because the prevailing winds are against us. However, with the proper navigational tools (a good five year plan, and a well defined current year project plan) we can. We cannot direct the wind, the tides, or the current, but we can adjust the sails. As your President, I am determined identify our purpose as an organization, focus on mission critical issues, bring the necessary resources to bare on those projects, adjust our sails. By doing so, we can truly build our future, and set sail for new horizons. Our long-term goals are to become the Association of Choice for those that make a living through Information Technology, to gain recognition for what we do as a true profession, and to once again become the flagship of the IT industry.
We began to address those difficult questions and adjust our course at our June ABOD meeting in Chicago, when we put together a 5-year plan. We continued this process at our meeting in Jacksonville in October, and we have made significant progress this weekend here in Charleston. As proof that we are truly changing our course and changing our focus, I offer you the simple fact that we are here in at the Region 18 Leadership Retreat in Charleston West Virginia, instead of Chicago, Illinois as evidence. I have attended this outstanding event many times in the past, I have always felt welcome, and I sincerely appreciate your invitation join you this year. So happens that I brought with me some of my very best friends, I hope you don't mind.
Introductions:
Kevin Jetton, San Antonio Texas, Association Executive Vice-President
Donny Wall, Augusta Georgia, Association Secretary/Treasurer
Gary Keller, Racine Wisconsin, Association Immediate Past President
Directors at Large:
Sam Luke, Honolulu Hawaii
John Foertschbeck, Baltimore, Maryland
George Koscho, Chesapeake, Virginia
Ken Frey, Detroit Michigan
Nita Adams, Springfield, Illinois
Wendell Jinright, Jacksonville, Florida
Gerard Walsh, Warren, New Jersey
Mary Riall, Baltimore, Maryland
Leo deFolter, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
President of the Ed Foundation & board liaison to AITP
Al Strong, Los Angeles, California,What is our purpose?
I believe it is "To keep our members informed by giving them "Top Level" information about changes within the entire spectrum of Information Technology. To represent the best interests of the Information Technology Industry to government, higher education, and the business community."
What is our target market? I believe it is "Information Technology decision makers and those who influence Information Technology decisions."
I believe that AITP has learned some very important lessons in recent years. As a national organization, we now know that we must focus our energies on those things that are important to the Information Technology industry as a whole. To this end, we are committed to working on behalf of the industry through our legislative monitoring activities, position papers, model policy statements, opinion editorials, educational opportunities, networking opportunities, personal and professional development opportunities, as well as drawing attention to the importance of certification in our industry.
Another key role that AITP must play is one of support! Our Regions must be given the support they need to perform the tasks they do best such as leadership training and Chapter revitalization efforts. We have a "Region Focus" committee hard at work on these issues, and expect specific proposals for action in the near future.
Our Chapters must be given the support they need to provide educational programs and personal development opportunities for our members. The PCS 2000 is an initial step in the right direction. In addition, we must take steps to make running a Chapter easier by making timely membership, management, and financial information available through state-of-the-art web technology.
In summary:
Image is important, and we spent last year working to improve our image, however there is more to do in this area.
Teamwork is essential, we must work together as one team with a common purpose in order to be effective. Chapters, Regions, SIGs, and national all have an important role to play and we are all dependent upon one another for success.
Results are everything, and we as the leaders of AITP must commit ourselves to obtaining those results, it is up to us. No one else can do it for us.
Working together as a team, we can and will make all of this happen. We have already taken the first steps, we are moving in the right direction.
With your support, we will succeed!
Ernie Nolan
Association President
