I am delighted to report that year-to-date membership retention is up 10% over last year. SMPS currently represents a solid 5,335 members and 2,350 firms, and that number continues to grow, increasing our valuable network of business contacts and bolstering our ability to build business for our firms. Strong and rising membership numbers are the primary indicator of sustained health for our association.

Strong committee work at the local and national levels is an indicator of future leadership potential in SMPS, which contributes to a sustainable future. Approximately 550 members—about 10% of the membership—serve on the boards and committees of our chapters, creating local networking and educational opportunities to support our members, the profession of professional services marketing, and the firms we represent.

These local leaders go on to national service, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise that further strengthens the organization. The response to my call for volunteers for national committee service resulted in 51 applications in October. The National Board and I are gratified by this willingness to support the Society. In the next issue of SMPS News, you’ll read more about SMPS’s committees, their members, and the goals they will pursue this year.

Another indicator of organizational health is program attendance. The first webinar of the 2004-05 programming year, "The Economic Forecast for 2005" with David Wyss, attracted 55 registered sites, almost triple the expected participation. Our next webinar is "Critical Skills for Marketers: The Path to Empowerment" to be presented by Sally Handley, FSMPS, on Tuesday, November 16. This session is also generating better-than-expected attendance. This trend bodes well for the Mid-Day Webinar Series and the other educational programs planned in 2005 such as Build Business, the Business Development best practices workshops, and "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Design and Construction Industry." The success of our educational program participation is helping this year’s National Board reach its strategic goal of providing new and improved means of education and professional development to our members. And it is benefitting our members with quality programs and new knowledge.

The recent National Staff addition of Bill Scott, CAE, as Vice President of Education reaffirms this Board’s commitment to professional development as a key to the Society’s future. A Certified Association Executive, Bill comes to us from the National Contract Management Association, where he was Director of Education and Chief Learning Officer. Bill will work with our Board, staff, and Education, Certification, and Conference committees to identify, plan, and implement quality educational programming that can afford you a range of new options for professional development and career advancement. You can reach Bill at 800.292.7677, x235, or bill@smps.org to say "Welcome," ask questions, and share ideas.

Finally, to insure the future economic viability of the Society and to provide resources to create new programs for you, in September the Board of Directors voted for a $20 increase in annual membership dues, effective December 1, 2004, our first in three years. This increase will be reflected on the renewal notice you receive on your next membership anniversary date.

The economic health of our firms is very much at the forefront of our minds this November. My firm, BSA LifeStructures, is in the middle of budgeting for 2005, as I know many of your firms are. If you are looking for research and insight to help your team make sound decisions, I recommend attending one of McGraw-Hill’s Regional Economic Outlooks. To locate a program near you, visit www.construction.com/event/RegionalOutlook/index.asp. Or sign up for the webcast of McGraw-Hill’s National Outlook; details are available at www.construction.com/event/Outlook2005/webcast.asp. McGraw-Hill Construction is a valued supporter of SMPS, and the Society was proud to be a sponsor of the Outlook 2005 Executive Conference. The information I received from that program has been invaluable in planning for the future.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful to all of you for your support of SMPS. We all have much to be thankful for, and SMPS does as well, as our own economic indicators prove.

About the President
Karen O. Courtney, AIA, FSMPS, is 2004-05 SMPS National President and Director of Marketing, Senior Associate, with BSA LifeStructures in Indianapolis, IN. Karen can be reached at 317.819.7878 or kcourtney@bsalifestructures.com.