Last month, IABC headquarters and the Stronger Together Task Force shared information about the future of our association and we’d like to bring our members up to date about the proposal, including our concerns about the future of the organization as a whole and how the proposed changes would impact the Calgary chapter.
What is Stronger Together proposing?
While many IABC chapters continue to flourish, some smaller ones are struggling with declining revenue and the challenges of board governance. Several chapters have merged or closed. The Stronger Together proposal aims to support these smaller chapters by simplifying finances, administration and governance.
However, the Stronger Together proposal doesn’t work for IABC/Calgary and other similarly successful chapters.
The proposal intends to replace chapters like Calgary that run autonomous finances, administration and governance, with ‘communities’ that would operate more like special interest groups under a shared financial, administrative and governance model.
What comes next?
In strategic alignment and solidarity, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and BC—the four largest chapters in the world—raised questions to IABC headquarters, the International Executive Board (IEB) and the Stronger Together Task Force, and asked them to reevaluate their proposal in favour of a hybrid solution that would allow chapters to select the operating model that best suits their chapter.
At the IABC town hall on June 4, held during the World Conference in Toronto, we heard from other chapters with the same concerns. We are continuing the conversation with them and are bringing our mutual considerations to IEB and the Task Force.
We’ll continue to advocate on your behalf and seek clarity before voting on the proposed future of IABC. Results of the vote will be announced at the June 21 international virtual AGM. We encourage you to attend.
Questions?
If you’d like to learn more about IABC/Calgary’s stance on the Stronger Together proposal, send us an email at Calgary-executive@iabc.com.
