WREN'S WESTERN OUTPUT
by Annette Wren, FCSI, CDT
Part 1: Does Our Current Region System Need to Be Modified?
CSI is promoting the concept of change. The times, they are changing! Innovations in the way we communicate have transformed our entire world. Sometimes, we need to just let go of our old ways. In CSI, my opinion is that our current region system needs to be modified. Why? CSI has changed!
Many years ago, we relied upon our Institute Region Directors to bring us the latest news and information from their Board Meetings. We relied upon the region system to supply chapters with valuable resources from the Institute. In the past, the geographics and archaic communication devices favored strong regions that assisted the local chapters. Times and CSI have changed. In an instant, we can access the latest from the Institute web site. We can receive the information we need via e-mail or fax from staff members who assist our CSI chapters and chapter standing committees. We can access the Institute web site to get and share ideas with other members. All of this takes minutes. Small and large chapters have equal access to information and ideas. Geographics are meaningless in this system. Our new age of communications has empowered us.
Why do I bring all of this up? During the last decade, some of my CSI friends have tried to convince me that the current system of regions in CSI has no real value to the majority of members. They seem to think that the only real purpose of the region is to create an annual conference. They are right! This is a real shock to me! My big deal was always about creating value and services for our members from the chapter, region and Institute levels. A few weeks ago, my region board sat around for a day and one-half debating about the value that could be created. The leaders told us they needed more funds for the region. Why? We need to balance the budget. We need to fund travel expenses. Big chapters need to help little chapters. We would figure out the valuable services that would be created later. "Consider it a donation," said the senior director. Someone suggested that we could bring back leadership training even though some chapters have their own. Maybe, they would be willing to pay more to travel to an additional region event? We could build a bigger mousetrap! The entire experience made me ill. I felt as if I was at the bedside of a dying friend! Times are changing. CSI is changing. What is wrong (or right) is that a majority of CSI members receive value from their chapter(s) and the Institute.
What about all the value that can be created by the region? Join me next month for a look at the possibilities.