Hi NAPO,

To all NAPO staff, leaders and committee volunteers… WOW! I am blown away by how much value I get from my NAPO annual membership dues EVEN after 15 years as a NAPO member.

Yes, this is my unsolicited testimonial. We can forget what’s under the hood when everything’s going great… Innovation, competency and consistent quality can be taken for granted — until, suddenly it’s not there, and I think that’s usually when we as members tend to write emails to NAPO.

So I’m writing to show you how I count my NAPO blessings.

While the value of NAPO membership has been a slam-dunk investment for new organizers forever… as a “seasoned” member, I have been amazed at the way NAPO membership keeps on giving (If the annual dues have gone up, I haven’t noticed).

My short list of recent NAPO value moments includes a lot:

I’ll start with the new free NAPO podcast series. At first blush, I thought, “OK, great idea for new people thinking about making a career change…” Then I noticed the podcast interview with Liz Jenkins. That got my attention. Liz is a fellow “seasoned” pro, whom I have long admired and loved working with as a volunteer. Yep, I’m interested in her perspective, but she’s busy so it’s not like we have time to chew the fat by phone on a regular basis.

Listening to Liz in the podcast interview was SO worth my time! Yes, I got reinforcement on some things we think we are doing right in our company. But I ALSO got a totally new outlook on at least one nagging business operational issue we’ve wrestled with forever. My blinding guiding insight occurred in my car, while streaming the NAPO podcast on my way home from dropping stuff at our storage unit. No spoilers here, but if you listen to that podcast, you’ll know exactly what I’m taking about. There IS a better way.

Beyond that one podcast, I’ve enjoyed sampling the free member seminars through the Acceleration Learning Series, with Business Building Blocks presentations from our Business Partner experts. For example, the NAPOSure program on insurance clarified a few nuances I didn’t realize I needed to know. Not like I didn’t already know plenty about insurance- I did. But an hour reviewing insurance confirmed my basic understandings AND got me thinking about details I’d never really grasped before… issues you don’t face until you hire employees, accept larger projects, etc.

The new NAPO specialty certificate tracks —Hallelujah!! YIPPEE!! I am so grateful to the NAPO Education Committee.  These specialty tracks are exactly what new members need right away starting out, while they’re craving industry specific qualifications to build their credibility. I cannot think of a better or more affordable way to do it.  Also, I just happened to notice the E-Learning Advantage education bundle— an incredible educational deal for the price!

But, if the E-Learning Advantage package is more cash than a start-up business can bite off right away, the Going Pro Bundle that provides the 3 Professional Practices is the next best thing… and that 3 class package encourages new members to reach for a higher level of professionalism sooner instead of later. That’s a huge win for our industry!

The tweaks to NAPO conference over past few years have improved the experience. I get lots of options but haven’t felt so slammed by the schedule in recent years – GOOD. It keeps getting better and better—and I look forward to the retreat at the Q center.

Applause for NAPO Conference Committee for boldly rolling out a new approach. There may be hiccups the first time around as for anything new – the hiccups may feel like a big deal to this year’s Conference Committee in the moment – but I’m confident that most NAPO members will embrace the new format (and some will adapt faster than others).

Its SO easy for me to enthusiastically suggest new organizers join NAPO as soon as they possibly can—before they pay for the networking clubs or a website —and even before agonizing over their logo. Nothing offers a better return on investment than membership in NAPO.

So thanks to HQ staff and the hundreds of NAPO colleagues who have shared their vision, expertise, time and talents. I haven’t forgotten all the personal time NAPO volunteers commit in order to bring a project from vision to reality.  I remember how it felt to juggle NAPO conference calls in the evenings with NAPO volunteer tasks waiting in the inbox- after a full day running a business and working with clients.  I haven’t forgotten the times when my after-hours volunteer work also meant after-hours support from NAPO staff.

As the larger world of associations is getting turned on its ear, I’m thankful to know NAPO staff experts keep their eyes on the macro picture so NAPO leaders aren’t blindsided. Together we are better (Barbara Hemphill, thanks).  NAPO looks great on the outside! I can see it and say it now that I’m not on the “inside” as a current volunteer.

Please keep doing what you’re doing. Thank you!

Best,

Kate S. Brown,
Certified Professional Organizer®, Managing Member, Impact Organizing LLC