Accelerate your Membership Experience

by Gina Kennedy

This past year has proven that no matter what happens, there is always a way to get through it. Working in an academic institution, the halls are usually buzzing with chatter from students, faculty and visitors, but now, just silence for the most part. A year ago, if you had a question or wanted to share an idea, you walked down the hall, but now you Zoom. We are all learning how to do the same work differently. Of course, it can be scary – most changes are – but that does not mean it will not lead to something amazing, right? Reflecting on this year, I will try to value the human connection a little bit more.

I am grateful for my ACUPA membership connection to help during these unprecedented times. ACUPA represents more than 150 institutions in the USA and abroad, and  I miss the in-person conferences when I could connect, break bread, share a favorite story and learn something new. When we can get together again, we will…but for now we all Zoom.

As policy professionals we navigate around the emerging changes and concerns, we are always evolving and moving forward. Being a member of ACUPA gives me a forum to solicit advice and share policy issues with ‘like’ colleagues (we really are policy unicorns). In our supercharged Zoom world, it is hard not to feel distanced or that there is too much change, frustrated that we cannot conference or socialize, it gives me Zoom fatigue sometimes just thinking about it.

Socrates writes, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." These are sage words to live by, and a great way to kick-start something with new perspective and a heavy dose of positivity. So, here are four ideas on how to make the most of your ACUPA membership.

1. Member Spotlight

It’s important in a group as large and diverse as ACUPA to put yourself out there and introduce yourself.  Each month, ACUPA spotlights one individual in an effort to bring you, our unique and diverse group of members, together to network, share, and acquire knowledge. To be a spotlight participant, send us your information.

2. Be Prepared and Make Every Meeting Valuable

Many do not realize the preparation that should go into each meeting role. The better prepared you are for a position, the more you can learn, help others, contribute to the meeting, and energize the organization. Share your ideas – creative members make all the difference to strengthen the connection.

3. Turn Challenges into Opportunities

Now more than ever, the challenges of COVID and post-COVID provide policy administrators with a wealth of new tools, and I am sure some old tricks of the trade have been used to migrate through the changes needed for our organizations. Having a resource organization like ACUPA established to explore policy processes and to discuss specific policy issues is a great reason to ensure your membership is up to date, that you are participating and that you promote the organization with other policy administrators so they too can turn challenges into opportunities.

4. Be the Dose of Positivity - Engage and Inspire

Do you have a story to tell? Write a guest blog, offer to do a presentation, share with your colleagues!