Commentary.

In the September issue of Business Credit, I talked with you about change and how it affects you, the credit professional, and how you perform your job. To establish the enormity of change in our everyday life, I shared some statistics with you on the growth rate of the world's information base. This constantly growing/changing information base makes it imperative that we strive to keep pace.

Information is key, and your first stop as a credit professional on your quest to stay current with technology and all the resources you need to do your job at the best possible level should be NACM.

There is a variety of ways to gather information ... through formal education (college or university), on-the-job training, or through self-motivation. A formal education through established institutions, such as colleges or universities, provides you a base skill-set. On-the-job training provides you with the specific skill-set you need to successfully perform an assigned function, task, project, etc. On your path of serf-education, NACM can provide the necessary resources to assist you in your quest to stay current with change.

Let's start with Business Credit magazine ... it's published 10 times each year, and features articles that will keep you, the credit professional, up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques in business credit, as well as information on educational events, outsourcing and software. You'll find coverage of state lien laws, an international "credit hot spots" column, and in-depth analysis of legal issues that affect the credit profession. It's a great start on your information-quest path.

Next stop ... NACM E-News. The September 7th issue covers 19 different business news items, both national and international, as well as informing you of business credit related educational offerings. This month, NACM has scheduled 11 educational offerings ranging from a 60-minute audio teleconference on Understanding the Components that Drive Operating Performance, to an Accounts Receivable Forum, six regional conferences, and three international conferences, as well.

Have you heard about NACM's new audio-teleconference series? It's affordable, convenient and simple to participate. NACM provides outstanding speakers, practical information and complete reference materials. As a participant, you earn participation points on your NACM Career Roadmap--and as an added bonus, your entire credit department can participate for one low fee. Recent offerings included the following topics: UCC Article 9--The Revisions at Work and Their Impact; Reclamation & Stoppage of Delivery; Protect Your Companys Bottom Line and Export Letters of Credit.

The NACM Bookstore is a vast credit resource, whether you are looking for reference materials or looking ...