We will be focusing on winning at our upcoming Annual Meeting March 29 through April 2, 2007, at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ. Save the dates. You won't want to miss this meeting.
“Opportunity Abounds,” “Preparing for the Growth,” “Where's the ‘WOW' ”—these were all topics of my previous letters as your association president.
I am pleased to report that a lot of winning has taken place within and throughout your association. Membership continues to grow, exceeding our goals. Top-quality companies are listing their requirements on our RFQ system. Several members have been winning new business as a result. The RFQ mechanism is working for all of us. You will hear more about the success of this program from fellow members at the Annual Meeting.
In the meantime, I am pleased to report that a representative of a well-known company recently called me and expressed thanks for the follow-up and follow-through of more than 20 members in response to his RFQ. This was the first time he had used the system, and he was quite pleased with the results. More than one of our members was awarded business with this company. We are all ”winners.” As the John Fogerty song goes, “Put me in coach, I'm ready to play.” I trust you will agree that membership in the association is an invaluable investment.
Your board of directors has worked very hard to make sure your organization is prepared for the growth of this service industry. Our initiatives and goals are being met with the help of approximately 20 volunteer members. The sacrifice of time and expense by these individuals is a winning way. The four committees (Management, Marketing, Membership, and Meeting) are staffed with volunteers working to move the association ahead. New objectives are being established. Among them are the continuing improvement of the RFQ system and the association's Web site, work on the “State of the Contract Packaging Industry Report,” and the adoption of association purchasing programs in transportation and power, as well as building visibility within the customer arena.
Our new associate membership category continues to grow. Without these members and their willingness to sponsor events, we would certainly have higher membership fees and even higher meeting costs. Needless to say, the support you give these associate members helps in our continuing success moving forward.
The management of your association by Landon, Farrey & Associates has not only made us a better organization, it has taken us to another level with regard to visibility and credibility within the packaging community. This effort also allows the board to look beyond the actual “doing of things” to the more visionary aspects of leading an organization. In short, the Contract Packaging Association (CPA) continues to field teams that develop winning ways.
Earlier this year, we reached the 100 corporate membership milestone and initiated a CPA Hall of Fame. We moved our meetings to five-star venues while keeping costs in line—helping to make the event a more rewarding experience for the membership. We provided timely educational sessions from best-in-class presenters, and later made all presentations available to the entire membership. We helped launch Contract Packaging magazine with Summit Publishing Co. and the contract-packaging segment of the Packaging Summit Expo with Tarsus Expositions. Both new efforts are successful.
All these accomplishments mean a great deal to us as an organization and to you as a member. We all benefit from the exposure and visibility. Our winning ways continue throughout the year.
As I write this letter, it is October, and this magazine is distributed in November. Needless to say, I wish you all the best during the holiday season and throughout the New Year. It is a pleasure serving you.
