“Every organization not just businesses-need one core competence:  innovation.  And every organization needs a way to record and appraise its innovative performance.”

-Peter Drucker, “The Information Executives Truly Need,” Harvard Business Review

Webster says innovate means to start or introduce.  Isn’t that why we are members of APICS?  To learn or borrow that new idea that will make the difference to our company, to us.  The person that sits at your table at next month’s dinner meeting might be the one person who has the key to make a direct impact to you or your company’s bottom line.  BORROW SHAMELESSLY!

Along that vein, I’ve just attended the Region V APICS mini-meeting in Wichita.  Ah, networking is a very good thing.  Wichita Chapter was well-represented and had many good inputs on what we are doing.  One thing I’ve learned is from a story I heard long ago.  When asked his pone number, Einstein went to the phone book and looked it up.  That act left his inquisitor dumbfounded.  Here’s one of the most intelligent men who ever lived, yet he is looking up his telephone number.  Einstein noted that you didn’t have to know

(or retain) every piece of information; you just needed to know your resources.  Networking is resource gathering.

Greetings, fellow resource management professionals.

Hot enough for you? (The weather, I mean).

Cool enough for you? (The economy, I mean).

As we enter the fall season, we hope one cools off and the other warms up!  Your APICS board of directors have been working over the summer putting the fall program together along with the strategic plan and marketing plan.  If you have any inputs or recommendations, please let any board member know.  Please put the special date of October 9^th on your calendar for the October PDM.  Carol Ptak, CFPIM, CIRM, Jonah, PMP, APICS Past National President and author will be coming to Wichita from People Soft in Seattle, to be our featured speaker.  Dr Larry Whitman, PE and Kate Keltz, CPIM will be our featured speakers for September 9^th  PDM.  Both of these presentations are being featured at APICS National Conference in Las Vegas in October 2003.

Are you looking forward to vacation or just the kids going back to school?  Have you spent enough time at the golf course or pool?  Enjoy the rest of your summer.  I look forward to seeing you in September.

Sincerely,

Ron Kammerer, CPIM, CIRM, EA

President, Wichita APICS Chapter 2003-2004