Regional meetings and the importance of member engagement
Regional member meetings have been a feature of the PCA for as long as I have been with the Association. Having been responsible for organising what used to be quarterly events as a technical officer for ten years, and attending them for another decade as your CEO, the value and the frustrations of these events are not lost on me.
The least well attended meeting I ever organised convened with Allan Chekett and me sat in a pub basement just outside Birmingham talking to ourselves. The best attended were always those where events drew members into the spotlight. In such circumstances members are often left standing as the venue runs out of chairs and on a couple of occasions, coffee cups too.
A chance to engage
This round of regionals is a little different in format from those which James has organised so well recently. Instead of a guest speaker and a catch up on current PCA stuff, the Board have asked us to use the events as a means of gauging members medium and long-term priorities, desires, and aspirations for their Trade Association.
There will be a new management team at the PCA in January. That team will be selected and appointed by the elected Board of Directors working in the best interests of the Association. But they want some help.
The Board want to hear from members
Sue and I leaving the PCAs payroll presents opportunities. A new senior team can continue to evolve and shape your Association in ways that continue to build on its influence, value and commercial importance to members. But the way is not set, so the Board has a moment to take account of the wishes of members before it is.
The PCA Executive is directly accountable to members for everything we do and every penny we spend, and the Board’s role is to ensure oversight and direction. The replacement of the CEO and the Company Secretary also falls within their remit, so it’s right that they take input and counsel from members before they tackle what will be an important process.
To that end, each of the current round of regional meetings is being attended by at least one member of your elected Board. They will help facilitate discussion on the future shape, goals, and objectives of the PCA and listen to the thoughts, views, and opinions of as many members as possible.
The Board are then committed to further discussions to agree the shape and constitution of the new senior management team, so that recruitment can begin soon after.
Attend a meeting near you and have your say
The shape of the new senior team must be dictated by the skills that are needed to achieve the objectives of the company. These goals should reflect the needs and expectations of members, and so the importance of engagement right now at these meetings could not be clearer.
So, whether you believe the PCA needs a fundamental strategic change of direction and leadership style, a shift from the technical to a more commercial approach to marketing, or just more or the same (only better), then you have an obligation to express your views and the right to influence decisions that will impact the Trade Association that you collectively own.
The next meeting is in Coventry (next week), we then go to Scotland and the North the week after. I very much look forward to meeting and hearing from as many of you as possible, at what are my last face-to-face regional meetings in the job.