Part One
The Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), with the support of the Tourism Promotions Board, successfully held the eighth edition of its annual Associations Summit (AS8) with the theme, “Leading with Agility.”
The 2-day virtual event, which drew over a hundred attendees from here and abroad, featured eight webinars on association governance and management topics, a tourism-inspired opening session, the “Ang Susi” Awards 2020 presentation, and the 8th General Council of Members Meeting.
Following are notable notes I took from speeches and presentations of the distinguished guests and speakers who graced the occasion:
Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones, TPB chief operating officer: “The theme of the Summit resonates deeply with any leader who remains focused on achieving strategic organizational goals, sustains a creative mindset to explore new ways of thinking and doing things, and continues to commit and cultivate the spirit of shared service within the context of the leader’s team, our industry and, in a larger milieu, our country.”
Charlie Villasenor, chairman, PCAAE and Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia (Pasia): “The holding of the Summit could not have occurred at a better time than this as we endure the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic has brought. I am sure all of you have your own stories to tell on how you are surviving and transforming your associations, your professions, and industries. This is one of our greatest opportunities to spread the faith through events such as this one we are holding right now.”
Greta Kotler, chief global development and credentialing officer, American Society of Association Executives (Asae): “I would like to congratulate the PCAAE for the work it has done for the last eight years and with the many contributions it has been making to Philippine society. We are also proud of the (PCAAE’s) Association World magazine and the phenomenal job that you have been doing with that.”
Amy Hissrich, vice president, global and strategies, Asae: “The complex challenges of 2020 spurred innovation and agility across associations around the world. As associations grapple with how to move to virtual meetings, address remote work, and evaluate new business models, it is just fitting that the topic of this year’s Summit is ‘Leading with Agility.’”
Gihan Perera, futurist, speaker, author, and consultant: “We’re not in the same boat but in the same storm. Everybody is thinking differently about what matters to them. What used to work before might not work anymore now. Leading with agility needs three things: (1) to scan wider, i.e., think more of what’s happening outside your association; (2) to choose better, i.e., narrowing down your choice and choosing the path you are going to take to the future; and (3) to use wisely, i.e., leveraging and making use of the resources you’ve got. So when you’re making your plans, don’t aim for perfection but make what is good for you now, with a backup plan when things change.”
John Peacock, CEO, Associations Forum (Australia): “Successful associations consider these 11 essential elements: organizational structure and scope, constant review of their constitution, good governance, staff, finance, technology, member services (value proposition), communication, membership engagement, plans, and culture.”
The column contributor, Octavio ‘Bobby’ Peralta, is concurrently the secretary-general of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific, founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives and President of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. The purpose of PCAAE—the “association of associations”—is to advance the association management profession and to make associations well-governed and sustainable. PCAAE enjoys the support of ADFIAP, the Tourism Promotions Board, and the Philippine International Convention Center. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org