Dear NAPO members,

We’ve been hearing a lot about 2020 being the year we wish to forget, the one that forever impacted our relationships and changed how we work and play. In hindsight, what does that mean and how do we look forward to welcoming 2021 with open arms?

Many of you might remember that NAPO members began talking about the future when we created a “trends wall” at the 2015 NAPO Conference in Los Angeles. So, when the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) created the ASAE ForesightWorks in 2017, the NAPO Board quickly jumped on the wagon and identified 25 drivers of change which would have the greatest impact on our association. Themes like The Aging World, Ethical Consumption, Diversity and Inclusion, Virtualized Meetings and Volunteering, topics we are still viewing today.

Committed to Foresight, we purchased and hold a license for the ForesightWorks Research to help drive conversations and decisions. It provides the opportunity for NAPO Members to engage in discussing the potential impact of various trends that will drive change in any of the following ways:

• How NAPO engages with members
• The type of services members might need to prepare for the changes ahead
• How members will deal with their clients
• The type of services members might need to provide to clients in the future

NAPO’s “Pathway to 2030,” as it was called, became an initiative that was seen as critical to the long term health of NAPO and the success of its members and chapters. Future trends and the concept of Foresight became an integral part of the Board’s strategic planning and decision making processes, and it is now baked into our Strategic Initiatives.

A year ago, Association Headquarters (AH), NAPO’s management company, presented NAPO with an award for “Best Application of Foresight.”  This award celebrated the accomplishments and successes NAPO has shown in implementing the concept of foresight into its culture.

Despite the challenges and disappointments that 2020 has brought us, NAPO is healthy and strong. This is largely due to all of you who value NAPO and continue to look beyond today and 2020. We are the best of our ever-changing and growing profession, so let’s begin 2021 by contemplating the future with an open mind and by continuing to embrace Foresight. It’s worth it for our association and for us!

Warm regards,

Susie Hayman