Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1365946
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION APRIL 28, 2021 Page 23 Continued on page 24 Participation Leads to Success By Todd Ginter, PSAI's Director of Marketing A s a PSAI staff member, one of the most important aspects of my work is getting the word out about our events. Every time I promote an event, however, I figure I am trying to reach only half the audience. Why? Simply put, the PSAI has been around for 50 years, and industry veterans in the industry are well versed in the benefits of PSAI events. They have attended many shows and understand that the opportunity to come together as a group is one, if not the best, reason to be part of the PSAI. But then there is the other half of members. These members are either new to the industry or to the PSAI and maybe haven't yet realized the advantages that strength in numbers at an event offers. Benefits of Participating in the PSAI Being an active member can bring with it many benefits. There is power in being connected to other people who are also involved in your line of work. Even so, it can be easy to talk yourself out of committing to attend a meeting or an event. Even if it is virtual and the most you have to do is click your mouse a few times, it may seem like too much. Many people think that joining an association is enough, but to get the best return on your investment, you need to be engaged and participate in the meetings, conferences, and trade shows. I certainly get it—the thought of taking a few hours or even days away from the office to participate in a conference, trade show, convention, or seminar can initially seem like a waste of time. However, these live meetings might be just what you need to uncover new ways to grow your business and get inspired. You may also think that being around competitors is not worthwhile, or worse, a chance for others to steal your ideas. But not everyone in our business is actually a competitor; many become allies and friends. Your mindset about participating will affect your results. I have learned through being a staff member for many years of member organizations that the true power from membership doesn't come from attending an occasional meeting in which you happen to like the speaker or topic. You will find that few individual meetings, in isolation, result in having met a specific person or learned a specific skill that will change your life or business in a positive way. Then you may be thinking, "So why should I go?" While individual meetings certainly provide the potential to meet new people and learn new things, the real value is larger in scope. Being active in an association for a length of time has many advantages. Here are a few, with some feedback from PSAI members who have experienced these benefits. 1. Talking to others in the portable sanitation industry helps keep you stay current with industry trends, products, services, and technologies.