If It's Not NACM--It's Not About Business Credit.(National Association of Credit Management)(Brief Article)

It wasn't all that long ago that it seemed that we, as an organization, lost our focus--investing our energy in internal political issues, rather than focusing on building for our future. Those days are behind us; your National Board of Directors has made a long-term commitment to invest in your organization through Strategic Planning, increased guidance from you, through our National Committees; and by building a spirit of cohesiveness and cooperation among our network of Affiliated Associations. All of us--members, Affiliate staff, the National staff, local boards, the National Board, and our National Committees--are now moving in one direction to build one strong, unified organization for tomorrow.

The National Strategic Planning Task Force has brought Affiliated Association Presidents, members of the National Board and National Staff together to discuss the mutual needs of our organizations. Each member of the Task Force has risen to the challenge of moving forward together. The Task Force agrees that working together, finding ways for the National organization to support its network of Affiliated organizations and for our network of Affiliates to work together with National, we can--and will--build the NACM of tomorrow.

The Task Force identified 15 strategic goals, prioritized them and is developing a plan to implement them. The task force agrees that one of the highest priorities must be in the area of public relations and marketing, with the goal of increasing the awareness of NACM, the credit management profession and the critical role that the credit professional plays in our business environment. It has often been said that NACM, both locally and nationally, and the critical role that credit management plays in today's business is one of the best-kept secrets around. Whether it's the positive impact that the credit department has on its company, by reducing receivables, increasing collections, making sound business credit decisions or guiding it through the maze of business legal issues--liens, bankruptcy, antitrust, ECOA, UCC, the FCRA--we must advertise our value and spread the word. Sound business credit practices create profit--every business credit department is a partner in profit.

We must spread the word about the services your local NACM Affiliate provides: from credit reports to collections, from adjustment services to credit group services. As providers of information and services, your local NACM Affiliate supports all of your business credit needs. You--the NACM member--can look to the experience and expertise of your local NACM to support you professionally. When it ...