My pappy always told me, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Keeping in line with the speech I gave at DMIA's Print Solutions 2003 Conference & Expo, I'm stealing ideas from industry pros I admire. For each President's Message, I'll have a guest contributor share his or her thoughts and ideas on industry topics.
This time, Daniel Siadak, CDC, COO of Roanoke, Va.-based distributorship Source4, will discuss DMIA's Special Interest Groups (SIGs). As DMIA's president in 2000-2001, Siadak helped formulate and promote SIGs, which are members-only groups that take advantage of specific educational programs and communication tools. DMIA's six SIGs are Labels, Promotional Products, Commercial Printing, Fulfillment, Direct Mail and Health Care. Here are Siadak's comments:
How do you structure an industry association that serves the vast, diverse and constantly changing field of business communication, but is able to address the needs and interests of each member? It's a complex, multifaceted task that requires solutions from a variety of sources, including state-of-the-art web-based services; local, regional and national meetings held throughout the year; and networking. These sources deliver tremendous value to DMIA members.
But how do you drill down even further, channeling the education, training and networking opportunities to industry segments that have specific needs, requirements and interests? The answer is simple: SIGs. They bring together people that have a special interest in a certain product category, service offering or vertical market. SIG members share, learn and help each other grow and prosper. I love this business!
DMIA's six SIGs are growing rapidly. Each one is led by a chairperson who's an industry expert with tremendous hands-on experience in his or her area. A DMIA staff member also supports each SIG.
DMIA's plan is to create more SIGs as the need arises. In the future, individual SIGs could provide services such as sales kits and presentations, newsletters, online services, enhanced sourcing and more. I believe this is an exciting concept that allows each of us to join and/or help create groups that support our business plans and growth strategies. We can use SIGs to tap into the collective wisdom, knowledge and experience of our peers.
SIGs are an effective, efficient way to gain the understanding you need while sharing insight with others. As I've always said, "As iron sharpens iron, we all sharpen each other." Please look into joining SIGs. You'll be glad you did.
Although they're still in developing stages, SIGs already have been successful learning and idea-sharing groups for DMIA members. Feedback on the groups has been overwhelmingly positive.
As a Fulfillment SIG member, I can attest to the high level of education, information-sharing and professionalism brought to the group by Co-Chairperson Cliff Bregstone, CFC, president of distributorship CBI Corp., Addison, Ill., and Co-Chairperson Mike O'Hara, chairman and CEO of distributorship AB&C Group, McLean, Va. The leaders of the other five SIGs also are doing fantastic jobs.
The continued growth and success of SIGs requires DMIA members' participation. I strongly urge all of you to participate. Your active contribution is one of the many ways DMIA can help you learn to enjoy change.
Phil Schmidt is president of distributorship Advanced Systems & Forms Inc., Livonia, Mich., and president of DMIA.
