Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/88465
NEW ORLEANS 126TH AFA ANNUAL MEETING • SEPTEMBER 6-8 • NEW ORLEANS • Dispute Resolution the Fraternal Way The city of New Orleans is a great city, full of history, past and present. 126TH ANNUAL MEETING National Vice President Margaret Schmitt — It was very helpful to talk with leaders of other fraternals who have made strides in resolving some of the difficulties we all face in our segment of the insurance industry. National Secretary Patricia DeNys — The American Fraternal Alliance's annual meeting was again informative and a learning experience. Workshops I attended were: • Enterprise Risk Management • Measuring Member Satisfactions National Treasurer Jon Mocol — The first day of the 2012 AFA convention was a board institute where a discussion took place about how fraternal societies are facing challenges in the governance of the organization. It was discussed that we need to look at putting well qualified officers and boards into office as we are facing more regulations to run our business. It was also discussed over the three days that we need to be steady and consistent about how we operate and as Jim Collins said "making sure that we are completing that 20 mile march" ... the theme meaning that we need to get up every morning and make sure we are working the plan that we have for our NCSF. National Director Cathy Hensel — One of the best things about going to the AFA meetings is that we heard about other fraternal organizations and what they are going through. One of the issues that many organizations have is how to get younger active members. Author, Jim Collins touched on this subject when he spoke to us. He said from his experience young people want to be a part of something. We have to speak the language of the younger generation. Another of his remarks was "If you refuse to change you will become irrelevant." This was stressed again in the workshop "Governance Roadmap – change starts at your convention." This workshop was presented by two organization's presidents that recently changed their governance structure, going from the convention as supreme governing body to a direct election method. This saved the society money by not having a convention and each member receives a ballot and votes on officers and board members and other important issues. Another workshop I attended was Social Media. If used correctly social media can communicate your relevance to the next generation. We spent time talking about Board of Directors' responsibilities and the unique regulations of fraternals. Each society should ask questions about their constitution A) When was the last time it was updated? B) Does it do what you want it to? C) Has it been professionally received? D) Does it have inherent conflicts and contradictions? E) Is it 28 National Catholic Forester