The Not So Lazy Days of Summer.(National Association of Credit Management)(Brief Article)

This summer has been filled with change. Little did I know that our cheese would move so quickly and that the story about the two little men and two little mice who ventured outside of their maze would take on such a meaning!

Having contributed 12 years of dedicated service and having accomplished all of the goals he had set for the national organization, Paul Mignini, Jr., CAE has left the position as President of NACM-National to pursue other challenges. Paul has been credited with repositioning the national organization to enter into a new era and with rebuilding National's financial position to one of sound strength. He became President of the national operation in December 1989 after having served as President of the Baltimore Affiliate, NACM Mid-Atlantic, for 14 years. The National Board, staff and membership extend their best wishes to Paul in all of his future endeavors and wish him continued success.

The National Board must now rise to the challenge of shaping the future of our organization by evaluating how to best fill the position of National President. As we all know, every change presents new challenges and opportunities. While a decade of leadership has drawn to a close, we must also view this end as a new beginning.

The National Board of Directors voted to fill two vacancies that existed on the National Board. We are pleased to welcome Rick Rehn, CCE, Credit Risk Manager, North America for Procter & Gamble Distributing as Vice Chairman -- Central Region and Clint Techmeyer, CCE, Corporate Credit Manager for Geneva Rock Products as Vice Chairman -- Western Region. Both Rick and Clint have served for many years on the National Board and bring strength and leadership with them to their position.

The Strategic Planning Task Force also met this summer to continue their work on the many initiatives established last November. A new and improved online bookstore was launched, making information about NACM's many publications and books easier to find. There is a link to the bookstore on the main page of National's site at www.nacm.org.

In July, the Task Force selected a marketing research firm to conduct a study of the NACM membership, gathering information about why people join NACM, why people drop their membership and about their preferences and thoughts about current or potential services. The Task Force selected the firm, Jacobs Jenner & Kent (JJ & K) to conduct the membership study. Since the July meeting, Wayne Jacobs, from JJ & K, has been working on preparing to launch the membership marketing study. The membership study is scheduled to be completed by October 20. Four different groups will be used in the study: current members (selected at random); lapsed members (expired more than one year ago, but not less than three years); member prospects (as supplied by the Affiliates to Wayne Jacobs) and professionals active in credit but not members of NACM.

Should you be selected to participate in the telephone study, I urge you to do so. ...