Chairman’s 2007 Convention Message …

Thank you everyone for providing and allowing me the opportunity to represent you as your Association Chairman for this coming year. I consider this a tremendous honor and privilege and a responsibility that I will undertake with great care and attention. Our Association, the IAPHC, is 88 years young, with many great leaders that have preceded me, all dedicated to serve in this important position.

I would like to personally thank Eric Olsen - now Past Chairman - for his special efforts in support and leadership and his dedication and commitment to our Association. He provided a stability and calmness through protracted communication with the Board of Directors during his Chairmanship. I trust we all extend an appreciative ‘thank you Eric’ as he now reverts to his previous position as Director and member of the Board. It is very comforting to know that Eric will remain part of the team that will continue to propel us forward, as we endeavor to lay down our future foundations.

My sincere thanks to our CEO Kevin Keane and the headquarters staff for your committed dedication to administer the needs, requirements and benefits to our members, Chapters and leaders of this great Association. We rely on you to provide answers to all of our daily requests associated to this industry vehicle we call the IAPHC. You connected us through our Gallery database, our CraftNet website, our vendor alliances and the - greatly untapped - Y’Know Knowledge Network which supplies the answers that would otherwise not have been available, were it not for this Association and our ‘Share Your Knowledge’ foundation.

The Vice Presidents – all volunteers - who worked incessantly as the Association Leadership Team are an example of unparalleled teamwork. They continue to prove that the team concept is far better and more rewarding with a focused approach when working together. They carried the banner to support Headquarters and the Board of Directors ensuring emphasis to the membership needs was the primary target every day. My thanks to each and every one of you.

I would also like to thank the wonderful local members in Baltimore … our 2007 Convention hosts. We enjoyed your hospitality and spending time in your beautiful and unique city.

A year ago, Chairman Eric Olsen stated “The Vision for the Association is to be one that values diversity of its membership and fosters an environment of being inclusive”. Such a diverse group we are, with members connected from all areas of the globe in the Graphic Arts Industry. We encountered a few distractions that forced a detour or two; however, Eric kept us on track and successfully maintained our vision and his focus.

In 2004, our Association embarked on an Alaskan Cruise for the annual Convention. During the business meetings, 54 Chapters representing the majority of the Association members discussed the future of the IAPHC. The ‘Strategic Business Plan’, the blueprint that was created by a diverse group of members and provided to all the Chapter Presidents prior to the Convention, was unanimously voted in favor by 52 of the 54 Chapters. This resulted in a very strong and clear mandate to allow our then 85 year-old Association to adopt the necessary changes that would propel us forward with a clear and focused vision, purpose, position and mission for the future. We should all not forget that back in September 1919, the New York and seven other Clubs formalized the creation of the IAPHC and that this process was 10 years in the making. Three years on, we are still in the ‘refitting’ process and completion will be accomplished soon.

Vice Chairman Julie Hiatt is committed to finalizing this process. I have tremendous respect and admiration for her dedication and diligence to complete the Chapters’ mandate. The Strategic Business Plan allows every single member a direct line for connection and change to the Association; you now have that available to you. The Chapters’ vote made this possible and the Board of Directors are answerable to each and every voice of our membership.

My commitment as Chairman of the Board is to ensure we stay focused on the task to complete the rebirth of the Association; create an improved level of communication through all avenues in the IAPHC and make sure that the Board of Directors, Headquarters, the Leadership Team and Chapter Presidents all engage in a heightened and clear focus for the most important asset of this Association … our members.

Everything we do is to increase the member’s connection in the Association. Communication is vital. Our ability to provide clear, concise communication is easier today than ever before with so many options available to us. However, that communication has to be effective and positive, resulting in a level of comfort and trust that will be beneficial to us all.

Our Goals for the coming year are:

• Membership – with the support of the Chapter Presidents, Board of Directors and Headquarters – we will all pro-actively commit to achieving membership growth

• We will communicate with every member the values and reasons in belonging to the IAPHC

• Communication – establish a clear and improved communication level through every channel in the Association to all our members

• Complete the implementation of the 2004 Strategic Business Plan

As a passionate member for the last 23 years, having enjoyed tremendously the incredible benefits that have been made available to me, I am convinced we have a very unique and unequalled opportunity to ensure you all take advantage of this powerful resource. This is your Association and the Board of Directors and Management Teams will leave no stone unturned to make sure we re-connect every single current and future member to the IAPHC.

I accept that we have an incredible challenge facing us, but I am committed to hit it head on with focused preparation, work ethic and without deviating from the blueprint, the Strategic Business Plan. I am confident, if we do it the right way, with the experience of our Management Teams and with your support, I know we will succeed and establish a new solid foundation for the future of the Association.

Arthur Mole
IAPHC Chairman