Moving Forward 338

Jenny Heumann

The sale of WasteExpo and Waste Age magazine to Intertec Publishing, a Primedia Company, earlier this year has enabled the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA), Washington, D.C., to focus on its primary mission - membership development and service. To enhance its ability to serve its members, the EIA has created the Membership and Marketing Services Department (MMSD), which will combine the membership recruitment and retention efforts, marketing, and meeting planning and organizational functions of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC).

The EIA staff will be able to eliminate redundancies, deliver higher value for a lower cost and complement the programs of these sub-associations by centralized planning and support - all without compromising their independence in governance and program development. This also will free up the NSWMA and WASTEC staffs to focus on their associations' internal programs and advocacy efforts.

The MMSD, among other things, will be responsible for:

* Membership, marketing, recruitment and retention. Soon, members will see improvements in both the format and content of membership mailings, including the way the EIA sells its services, accomplishments and other benefits to existing members and prospects.

* Planning, support and marketing of all contracted meetings and conferences. NSWMA regional chapter managers Peggy Macenas, Mike Huff and Steve Changaris spend enormous time and resources setting up and staffing meetings and events, which detract from advocacy and membership services efforts. The new department will enable the EIA to release conference agendas sooner, aggressively market meetings, better develop educational components and attract good speakers.

* Planning and coordination of in-house meetings. The MMSD also will work on education programs for WasteExpo, and NSWMA and WASTEC meetings and conferences.

* Sales and marketing of sponsorships for EIA activities, including chapter meetings and events.

* Maintaining the central membership database.

* Managing the EIA, NSWMA and WASTEC awards programs.

In addition to his role as executive vice president of WASTEC, Jack Legler will head up the MMSD, which consists of eight full-time and two part-time staff members. Kim Benz will serve as manager of membership and marketing for the department. Dawn Apple, the EIA's education manager, also will be part of the department. Ed Tarrant will assume the role of meetings planner.

"The new department is ready to roll," says Bruce Parker, EIA's president and CEO. "Of course, we do expect some bumps in the road because it takes a lot of planning and resources to get systems in place and running smoothly. While we are making these changes now, the year 2000 will be the litmus test for our success."

Parker also emphasizes how important it is that NSWMA and WASTEC members be flexible and cooperative in this endeavor.

"Indeed, the success of this new department will depend on NSWMA chapter chairmen and other industry leaders being willing to work with their regional managers in planning next year's meetings and events schedules this year," he says. "This way, staff can avoid competing dates, locations and other bottlenecks that we have experienced in past years."

The new department will be charged with determining when it is practical to combine meetings to increase attendance, improve speakers and educational components, and rebuild the social networking function, Parker adds. "All of these functions are part of the key benefits our members enjoy from belonging to an association."

WasteExpo Call For Papers Another key benefit is WasteExpo. As the leading solid waste industry conference and trade show, WasteExpo relies on professional experts to guide its educational sessions.

Each session creates a diverse setting that showcases the industry and its experts. As such, WasteExpo needs you.

Next year's show in Atlanta will be the kick-off of an exciting time for WasteExpo. With a promising partnership between the EIA and Intertec Exhibitions, WasteExpo is well-positioned to take on new challenges and provide expanded services to the industry. Next year's show theme is "Picking Up New Momentum" - and that's exactly what the industry is doing.

As an education partner, WasteExpo encourages you to think about what you want from the show's educational programs and what contributions you could make to ensure the show's success.

By becoming an education program moderator or speaker you can:

* Share your professional expertise with your industry peers;

* Evaluate industry challenges and shape the solutions;

* Bring visibility to your work;

* Gain recognition as an industry leader; and

* Set the pace and stage for the new millennium.

Do you have innovative and dynamic new systems and processes? Have you completed ground-breaking research?

Do you know case studies that have industry-wide implications? Are you creating new business management and development approaches? Has technology changed your work in a revolutionary way? If so, we want to hear from you.

As we pick up momentum in the nest millennium, how will the industry address issues facing hauling, recycling, landfill operations, medical waste management, waste-to-energy, resource recovery, equipment technology, safety, regulatory compliance, composting, construction and demolition recycling and disposal, and international markets?

To participate as a WasteExpo educational leader, please submit:

* The type of educational component you would like to lead: educational session, show floor presentation or facility tour;

* A 50- to 200-word description of your presentation /session idea;

* Your submission's focus, such as hauling, recycling, landfill operations, etc.;

* The unique central theme of your presentation, such as innovative strategies, new systems, recent industry paradigm shifts, specialized networking opportunities or creative business management;

* Proven results, measurements or outcomes.

* The necessity of this information to your professional colleagues;

* Potential co-presenters; and

* A brief biographical sketch.

The deadline for submissions is Sept. 15, 1999. Contact Dawn Apple with questions or comments. Send submissions to: WasteExpo 2000, Attn: Dawn Apple, Education Manager, 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Ste. 300, Washington, DC 20008. Fax: (202) 966-4818. E-mail: [email protected]

Several educational and important Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC) and National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) meetings still are yet to come in 1999. Don't miss the next one near you.

* 1999 NSWMA South Central Annual Meeting Texas/New Mexico, Sept. 9-10, Hyatt Hill Country Resort, San Antonio, Texas.

* 1999 NSWMA Illinois-Wisconsin-Minnesota-Nebraska-Iowa Joint Annual Meeting, Sept. 9-10, America Inn of Kasson, Kasson, Minn.

* 1999 NSWMA Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting Carolinas/Virginia, Sept. 14-15, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, N.C.

* 1999 NSWMA Southeast Annual Meeting Florida/Georgia, Oct. 14-15, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.

* 1999 NSWMA Heartland Annual Meeting Arkansas/Oklahoma, Oct. 27-28, Shangri-La Conference Center and Country Club, Afton, Okla.

* 1999 WASTEC Executive Roundtable Conference, Oct. 10-13, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.