President’s Message
It’s time to get involved.
I hope you were able to attend our 65th annual conference in Nashville and be inspired by the keynote speakers, educated by the information supplied in the breakout sessions, and refreshed by the opportunity to relax and network with your fellow employee involvement professionals.
Now, we're getting ready for our 66th annual conference in Orlando, FL, September 16 - 19, 2008. It's a great opportunity to recharge your "idea battery" and exchange information with your EI peers.
But the key to getting the most from your membership in EIA and from attending the conferences, whether you’re a new or long term member, is involvement. As employee involvement professionals, we seek to inspire others to be creative and participative, but we often fail to practice what we preach. If you become truly involved in EIA, either by volunteering to serve on a committee, running for the Board, or offering suggestions for ways to improve the organization, you will reap the benefits. This is an organization that is run by the membership, and it relies on all of its members to contribute to its success.
If you would like to get involved, we will do our best to find you, but please don’t wait. Instead, contact any of the Board members or the EIA office to let us know how we can help you or you can help us.
Some of the benefits of belonging to an association with a 65-year history are:
- Annual conference and workshops on the latest trends, techniques, and programs in employee involvement.
- Employee Involvement Advisor -- our blog with the latest in employee involvement and suggestion systems. Check it out frequently!
- Monthly e-newsletter – Ideas & Inspirations – with quick ideas for program improvement and training.
- Annual statistical report – A compilation of member company programs focusing on productivity and participation statistics in employee suggestion and idea programs.
- Awards programs to recognize the best in ideas and employee involvement professionals
- Regional workshops – Company sponsored regional workshop opportunities to learn first hand about employee involvement.
- Associate members – The best opportunities to meet and talk with the foremost consultants, trainers and vendors in employee involvement.
If you are visiting the website for the first time and would like to know more about the Employee Involvement Association, please feel free to contact Fran Rickenbach, our Executive Director, at eia@meinet.com or any one of the board members. If you are interested in starting an involvement program, becoming a member or getting more involved in EIA, or you just have a question, send us an e-mail or give us a call -- we are here to serve you.
Yours truly,
Heidi Lynch, CEIP
EIA National President
