The spirit of 'ubuntu'

Communication World, July-August, 2004 by Stephanie Griffiths

When I began my term as the chair of IABC one year ago, I knew we were in a rebuilding phase, but I also knew that we already had a firm foundation laid by our predecessors on the executive board and our dedicated staff.

Over the course of the year, I'm pleased to say we've built on that foundation.

Our year end audit shows that the association achieved a financial profit for the first time in eight years. The report noted that IABC exercises best practices in financial management and reporting systems.

We've also made advances in our efforts to provide advocacy for the profession, in building relationships with business and other professional associations and in adding to the value of our programmes and services to members.

We've made great strides by focusing on critical success measures as defined by our strategic plan: the core customer, IABC's valued membership; financial health and stability; the business sustainable and sound systems and processes; and learning and growth, the raison d'etre of our association.

At the beginning of my term, I told the membership that my hope was to see the association move forward in what we in South Africa call the spirit of "ubuntu," meaning that together we can achieve more than we can individually.

As my term ends and IABC begins its 35th year, I'm pleased to report, we are indeed moving forward together.