From the Editor: The Power of Associations

Still, the question hangs in the air: do we need associations any more? Ever since e-mail took over our workdays, attendance at IPMA chapter meetings has dwindled, as managers realized they could get answers from listservs rather than giving up their evenings to rub elbows with peers.

Yet what of the unexpected discoveries we make when engaging in spontaneous conversation with fellow managers? An off-the-cuff remark by a manager about a new idea he is trying may light a spark in your mind and inspire you to try something similar in your shop.