David Rule
OCA Director of Member Events
As I was considering my thoughts and what I would include in an article about events, I couldn’t help but reflect on my more than 40-years’ experience I have with event planning. Whether it’s strategizing, planning, preparing, executing or evaluating an event, I contemplated the most important elements of successful occasions and concluded it’s the purpose that drives a great event. What value is added to members because they attended? Did they learn a new business practice, enhance their leadership development skills, make new business connections, or help to strengthen the industry they are a part of?
Events are a key element of OCA’s mission, so let’s take a look at why associations need strong events to further their mission.
Networking is often cited as a key element of attending association events. It is, but networking is more than just hanging out with other like-minded people. The true value is in learning from peers, sharing information and getting constructive feedback on ideas. In addition, as members make new connections they grow professionally and broaden their knowledge and strengthen their career opportunities. And let’s not forget that a lot of great ideas and plans have come together on the back of a napkin at the evening social events or at dinner with colleagues.
In every career, ongoing training and education is key to helping our skills grow and help people be more productive in building our industry. The theme for the 2023 Conaway Conference, which was held February 28 and March 1, clearly spoke to this need to grow and nourish our skills: “Challenges Today – Build a Stronger Tomorrow.”
Events are a great opportunity to engage members in legislative and public agency advocacy for our industry. Association advocacy is only as strong as grassroots member involvement in the process. Lobbyists work from a more powerful position when their members are communicating the same message to their own representatives. Events bring people together to hear a common message and become equipped to share it where and when it is needed.
It is critical to involve in industry meetings both young people already in the industry and those that have interest in becoming a part of the industry. This is where they can get a vision for what is possible, make invaluable connections and learn from more experienced leaders. And we should never forget to listen to the newest members of the industry. Often, they can bring perspective that gives us cause to stop and ask ourselves the question: “Why are we doing it this way?”
Many associations use some of their events to help generate non-dues revenue to enhance the overall efforts of the organization. People are learning and growing to strengthen themselves and their companies, and in turn are helping the association build the industry. It is a win-win for all involved.
With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the purpose for some of OCA’s signature events. Winter Conference, slated this year for December 4 and 5, is focused on member education, recognition, sharing the advocacy message and makes a purposeful effort to encourage networking. Conaway Conference combines education and idea sharing with joint effort to build our industry relationship with the Ohio Department of Transportation. Collaboration and partnering with public agencies make all our efforts better. The Annual Convention, being held in Barcelona, March 15-23, is 2023 January/February 9 networking at its very core. Industry competitors spend quality time together sharing, learning and growing in a more relaxed atmosphere. The OCA Estimating Competition, the Future Leaders Forum and our newest effort the Young Professionals Network all focus on workforce development. These events are critical in growing our association leadership efforts at the chapter and statewide levels and preparing our future industry leaders working today to build a stronger tomorrow.
I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming OCA event. I encourage you to take this challenge: If you have never attended an OCA event, get to the next one to see what they are all about. A regular attender? Bring someone new with you to the next event you attend.