Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/202668
PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE to association events, beginning with the Gulf Coast Food & Fuel Expo in March. We need your support but even more you will benefit from attending. • • Recruiting New Members Membership is the lifeblood of the association. When we don't recruit new members the association suffers. From jobbers and dealers who are not members, to associate/ vendor companies you use that are not members, there are a lot of companies out there who should be a part of P&CMA but are not. Jobbers and dealers who are not members reap the benefits of the association's governmental affairs efforts while not contributing their fair share toward the cost of same. Supplier/vendor companies who are not members take business away from those associate member companies who support the association with their time and financial resources. Peer to peer contact is the best way to encourage companies to join the association. Make a commitment to recruit your dealers and suppliers/ vendors to the association. Oftentimes all it takes is someone asking. Supporting those Businesses that Support P&CMA - Following up on the last point, associate membership in P&CMA should not "guarantee" a company business. That being said, active (jobber/ dealer) members should make an attempt to see that P&CMA associate member companies are given the opportunity to "pitch" their products and services when appropriate. If their product or service isn't the right fit that's your decision, but they should at least be given a chance. This association has some strong and deep roots. The success we enjoy today is because of the passion and commitment former members brought to the association during the years they were active. "I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty." John D. Rockefeller P&CMA Hall of Fame Inductee Barnett Lawley had this to say about the association during his acceptance speech earlier this year at the association's Summer Convention; "I think anybody, especially the younger people here, can see the love from all of us (fellow inductees) that we have for this association. I don't think any of us would be where we are without this association. "When we merged the Independent Oilmen's Association with the Oil Marketers association, I guess you could say we didn't get along very well. It was mainly because nobody really knew each other that well. We put together golf tournaments all across the state and with that we became an association where people knew the person when they talked to them on the phone. A lot of our problems went away. "But if I can say one thing; let me emphasize, stay active in this group because we were able to accomplish a lot of things we couldn't without the comradery that we had for each other and for this business. "Stay together. Come to the meetings. Go to the social functions. Because your friend is also your partner in the business you have chosen to be in, and it's going to take everybody working together because there are some tough times coming." Now is our time. Let's make sure that when those who come after us look back on our years here they say, "Well done." J. Bart Fletcher, CAE P&CMA President Oil Prophets 13