OSAE Executive News Summer 2021

CHATTING WITH THE CHAIR
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN
BY OSAE CHAIR CHRISTOPHER HENNEY, CAE; OHIO AGRIBUSINESS ASSOCIATION
HENNEY
I
f you have not yet marked your calendar, be sure
to save July 21 – 23, 2021 for the OSAE 2021
Annual Conference at Ohio University in Athens
County, Ohio. I know I am looking forward to it!
OSAE has a long tradition of putting together solid events
with first-class speakers and content. I certainly learn from
the programming, but what I really find beneficial is the
connections I make with peers in our industry.
OSAE makes that happen! Not only through their
annual conference, but through a number of programs
and events. These include the CEO Dialogue Roundtable,
Association Coffee Talks and the Quarterly Meetings
& Workshops. OSAE events provide outstanding
opportunities to network and strengthen connections to
Ohio’s association professionals. I know it has helped
me immensely. Specifically, I have developed a network
of peers that I can bounce ideas off and learn from
their experiences.
Participating in OSAE isn’t just about what you get
out of it though; it also is what you are able to contribute
in order to help your peers and our association industry
as a whole – whether you are the long-time CEO or
brand new to the association world. I encourage you to
engage and participate.
I don’t know about you, but I get excited every time
I see an OSAE event on my calendar. Whether it’s
a CEO Dialogue, quarterly meeting or the annual
conference, I know I’m always going to walk away with
a new perspective, insight or best practice to take back
to my association.
Take, for instance, the 2020 OSAE Annual
Conference, held virtually last August. In addition to the
great content presented during the conference, I gained
valuable insight on how to host a fully virtual conference.
This insight helped guide OABA’s own virtual industry
conference, held successfully in January 2021.
The opportunity to come together as association
experts is one of OSAE’s greatest benefits, as it allows us
to share our challenges and triumphs for the betterment
of all. While it is valuable to take something away from
an OSAE gathering, it is even more important to give
something back. No matter how long you’ve been active
in the association community, you possess valuable
insight that can help another association professional
overcome a challenge they face. I encourage you to
explore all available opportunities to engage with your
fellow association professionals, to build your own
network of peers from which to share ideas and learn
from their experiences.
There’s no greater time to get started in building your
network than the upcoming OSAE Annual Conference,
held July 21 – 23, 2021 at Ohio University in Athens
County, Ohio. I know I am looking forward to it and
I hope to see you all there, too!
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