The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same – Looking at The DMAW through the prism of time

By Jinny Fleischman

How often have we heard – The DMAW just isn’t the same organization?

It has been a very long time since I first became active in The DMAW, and quite a while since I first started serving on the board. I remember my first board retreat when we had a consultant who came in to discuss the life cycles of non profits and their boards.  As she outlined the attributes of an organization at the top of the curve, it occurred to me that she could have been discussing DMAW.  Strong board, strong cash position, strong staff, a well defined vision and an excellent executive director.  It occurred to me that the only way we could go from that moment was down – the next stage in an organization’s cycle.  Some of the days that followed were not easy ones for the organization. It was not the first time this had happened during the DMAW’s history – and it probably won’t be the last.

And yet, like Phoenix, the group is well on the upward curve.  And the reasons for the upward swing are much the same: strong board, strong staff, a well defined mission, an improving financial position and an excellent executive director. Add to this a realization that direct marketing really can be at the forefront of today’s social media and you have an organization moving strongly forward.

If you are not a member, now is the time to join.  If you are already a member, now is the time to get involved.  You will be glad you did!

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Jinny Fleischman is a Past DMAW Board President as well as a Past DMAW/EF Board President. In 2008 she received the Award for Distinguished Achievement Recipient.