“What’s in it for me?”

If you are like most people you are very busy and don’t have time to waste.  I think most people who read an organizations President’s message, do so because they want to know “What’s in it for me?  What is my membership in this organization going to do for me?”  These are both valid questions.

Tom Seaver, the legendary baseball pitcher, once asked Yogi Berra, “Hey Yogi!  What time is it?  Yogi replied:  You mean now?”  The time to be involved in APICS is right now.  I want to give you ways to stay “connected.”  The American Heritage Desk Dictionary defines the word “connect” in a variety of ways:  to join or unite, to link or meet and also to relate.  There is power and vitality in being “connected” with APICS and with other persons in a meaningful and purposeful group.

I can tell you that we offer main body of knowledge classes, hold 10 monthly Professional Development Meetings per year with excellent speakers discussing current topics and real world applications of proven tools and techniques.  We offer a seminar as another way to help you stay current with what is evolving in our field of resource management.  Your membership entitles you to a monthly publication and quarterly journal pertaining to the APICS body of knowledge.  There are many opportunities to network with fellow professionals to help solve problems, find needed resources, improve efficiencies for your company, and find employment.  Certification facilitates personal and professional growth and recognition.  Continued membership also facilitates certification maintenance. 

Our October PDM will be a combined meeting with the Wichita ASQ chapter on October 9, 2003.  We are pleased to have Carol Ptak, CFPIM, CIRM, Jonah, PMP, and past APICS National President and author coming to Wichita from People Soft in Seattle, WA.  Her topic will be “The Performing Enterprise-Its All about the Bottom Line.  Our featured speaker has been nationally ranked and you do not want to miss this presentation. 

Congratulations are in order for the awards presented in the last month.  The Wichita Chapter was awarded its’ 16^th straight Platinum award for last year 2002-2003.  Thanks to Ron Lunsford, CPIM and last years officers for a job well done.  Congratulations to the undergraduate and graduate student winners in the Donald Fogarty paper competition at the region level.  A list of winners is listed in this newsletter.

Participation in APICS allows you to stay current with the tools and techniques needed to add value in an ever-changing, competitive environment.  How much you participate is up to you.  But the reality of it all is that you get out of your membership what you put into it.

See you on Thursday, October 9^th.

Sincerely,