ABPCO
6
December 2018
A sense of belonging
Kate Sargent, joint chair of ABPCO, finishes a series of articles
looking at the three pillars of the association’s offering
and the reason for its success. This time: Belonging
t is no accident that associations
use words such as community
and members when describing
the individuals and organisations
that make them up. By and large,
associations are created by a like-minded
group of individuals with a similar purpose
and desire for a specific outcome, they are
usually not for profit and in general act as
a force for positive change (in the opinion
of their supporters). Consequently, the
future success and growth of an association
is inextricably linked to the sense of
belonging and the ability of the association
to effectively engage and work with
members to maximise their value.
Belonging is one of the pillars upon
which ABPCO stands because we see
it as so vital to both the membership
experience and our ability to deliver on the
other two pillars – excellence and learning.
Specifically, when you join an association
(and we feel very strongly about this at
ABPCO), you are joining a family. Among
the other members you will find friends
and individuals to support and guide you
through difficult times, share your triumphs
and in general be there on a day to day
basis.
Now, more than ever, there is a need for
peers to work together and share ideas and
best practice. After all, who can help you
more than those people working towards
the same goals and experiencing the same
challenges as you.
Associations like ABPCO add to this
sense of belonging through the type of
events we organise. Like other associations
we have an AGM and conference, but it
is the other events that add the real value.
The dinners the night before a major
event, for example, where we gather to
network and socialise; or perhaps it is the
roundtables that take place under Chatham
House rules where they can air their
strongly felt opinions; maybe it is the sense
of achievement at the Chairmen’s awards.
Whatever works for each individual, there
is no denying that sense of being part of
something greater – a team where the sum
is genuinely much more than the individual
parts.
When you belong to something and
feel a part of something there is also a
natural inclination to expound on its value
and evangelise it to others. Consequently,
ABPCO has recently seen a raft of
partnerships between members, new
initiatives and new members who want to
see for themselves what all the fuss is about.
Associations within the meetings and
events industry are of course even more
lucky than many others out there. The
very nature of our work means we are
frequently exposed to and a part of creative
and successful events, which are in their
own right the perfect platform to develop
relationships and get the true value from
membership.
Ultimately, associations provide a safe
environment to meet peers, compare
notes and develop together. However,
those associations that really get it right
also create a feeling of collective support.
It doesn’t matter what today’s headline
says, which way the political or financial
winds blow or what legislation is lurking
around the next corner – someone in the
association will have already dealt with it or
at the very least have a plan to do so. They
will welcome others with open arms as
ultimately the success of one means success
for all.