Hello ISM Membership.

President’s Letter

Hello everyone. I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Locally, it certainly has been a wet one for the Fox River Valley. I am sure you are now experiencing an influx of our state bird, the mosquito. Internationally we have wrestled with volcanoes disrupting our supply chains, oil spills affecting our environment, political unrest and indecision in foreign countries, and a new economy that changes directions every day.

As the days become shorter and we approach another fall season, your ISM-NEW board is excited about this year. Optimism, like any sports team, is high at the beginning of each new season. The expectations are lofty but as with any SMART goals they are reachable. A plan has been put in place and ready to execute for this new ISM year.

Expectations

July was a busy month, preparing the budget and planning Professional Development Programs. As we approached the subject of the budget we weighed many areas. We tried to balance the value of the program and presentations along with the importance of being an ISM member versus the cost of belonging to ISM. We as a board discussed the need to have the highest return on investment and satisfaction for you, our valued members.

When the dust finely settled we have a budget that looks to grow our ISM-NEW membership by 45 members and provide worthwhile programs for our existing membership. These goals are very reachable and I truly feel we are on our way to success as we progress through the year.

To support and solidify these goals we met with different marketing experts and developed a marketing strategy. This action plan is in place and moving forward.

The main points and actions of our marketing strategy are as follows:

Work with the local colleges to promote supply chain, operations, or other graduates in pertinent programs to join ISM. The networking and interaction with experienced supply chain managers will be invaluable to these young men and women as they enter or expect to enter the field of supply chain management or other business endeavors.

Reach out to company executives explaining the value of the ISM and ISM-NEW affiliate. Ask our own or other company decision makers to join us at a Professional Development Meeting and encourage them to promote the ISM values.

Focus on and segment three customer groups of vulnerable, prospective, and win-back customers. Select a group and concentrate on promotion or retention encouraging their participation in the ISM-NEW affiliate.

Continue to listen to the voice of the customer of our current loyal customers. As their voices are heard present programs for their further education and understanding.

Promote certification in both the CPM and CPSM level. Achieving these credentials is both rewarding and can advance the member in their organization. Remember, today you never stop learning.

Finally, as members, bring a fellow associate from your organization to the Professional Development Meetings. Invite them to network and develop new contacts which can only enhance their personal portfolio. Remember in today’s new economy we are all in marketing and promotion of our product and organization.

Lineup for 2010 and 2011

The program planning is in full swing. Many of the meeting dates are already set and a lineup of qualified presenters is matched with your topic requests from last spring. We have tried to complement the voice of the customer, you the ISM members, with the numerous Professional Development Meetings. We are excited about the slate of experts in their field for the Professional Development Meetings and know these will be both rewarding and educational to all our members. I want to personally thank Amy Reid and Scott Larsen for putting together the program schedule and all of the members who worked diligently to acquire qualified individuals that would add value to the Professional Development Meetings.

Sustainability

In preparation for our first Professional Development Meeting, which will be September 14th, covering the subject of Supply Chain Sustainability, I would like you to think about the many facets of sustainability. Our ISM glossary defines Sustainability as: The ability to meet current needs without hindering the ability to meet the needs of future generations in terms of economic, environmental and social challenges.

There are really three separate yet important meanings of sustainability in the academic and business world. These are known in the academic circles as the three pillars of sustainability. The first meaning, environmental, is most familiar to us and which most of us relate to as greening of the environment and conserving energy for the future. The environmental sustainability effort has surfaced in the past several years and is beginning to affect all of us in both business and everyday life experiences. The second is social or concern for one another and dependency upon each other. Through networking, information sharing, and collaboration we begin to understand the connections between suppliers, customers, and all other stakeholders. The third that is recognized in business and supply chain circles is economic. As supply chain managers, in these volatile economic times, we need to be concerned with the business continuity and continued success of our organization and stakeholders.

I am confident that each and every one of you reading this newsletter will plan on attending our September 14th Professional Development Meeting and will come away with a better understanding and information about this important subject. Until then you and your family be safe and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Duane (Dewey) Stevens