East Tennessee Leadership Chapter The National Management Association Developing the Leader in You!

Guide to Member Services & Benefits

For nearly seventy-five years the National Management Association has been dedicated to improving the performance of people and organizations through practical and timely leadership education.  The primary purpose of the National Management Association is to promote personal and professional growth through education and leadership experiences.  The chapter concept, first developed by NMA, provides the maximum opportunity for that growth to occur in the leadership team both individually and collectively.  Leadership development in its broadest sense is participation by the individual in all of the growth opportunities of the chapter.

It is readily accepted that participation in a planned course of study contributes to personal and professional development.  To that end, NMA offers a substantial resource of educational materials and will continue to develop new programs and upgrade current courses.

Often overlooked, however, is the opportunity for professional development provided by active participation in an NMA chapter.  Accepting the responsibility chapter leadership requires the individual to meet and accomplish challenges of managerial and leadership development not afforded by the job responsibility.  Beginning with participation on a chapter committee and ascending by steps to the chapter presidency, council, and national activities, NMA members find themselves in an environment that allows them to use leadership principles … planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling.

Leadership Team Support

Professional Staff

The staff at NMA headquarters is always available to help you.  In addition, there is a full-time Staff Vice President in each geographic area.  This individual fosters and supports chapter development in all aspects.  The Staff Vice Presidents and the headquarters staff possess a wealth of knowledge of NMA and are eager to help you.

NMA Directors

The NMA Director is a volunteer who has substantial Association experience and acts as liaison between NMA and individual chapters.  The Director services his or her assigned chapters by providing information about proposed national policies and working closely with Staff Vice Presidents to counsel chapters.

Executive Advisory Committee and Educational Roundtable

NMA has two advisory boards that provide counsel and recommendations to the staff and membership.  The Executive Advisory Committee is composed of upper level managers from affiliated organizations.  The Educational Roundtable comprises a cross-section of Human Resources professionals from American business and industry.

Leadership Development Conferences (LDCs)

Each spring, NMA offers a series of Leadership Development Conferences (LDCs) around the country to equip new officers to assume leadership roles in the chapters.  These 2-day workshops focus on goal setting, budgeting, membership promotion, networking, executive management interface, working with HRD, public relations, and community service.  In addition, there are a number of continuing education unit (CEU) credit workshops that are offered.

Delegates meet other chapter representatives, members of the NMA staff, and many of the National Officers.  Together, they share experiences, examine existing resources, and often find common solutions to common concerns.  A very special group dynamic is created and participants go home with their batteries charged and a host of new ideas to try within their own chapters.  Information about this year’s LDCs can be found at http://nma1.org.

National Conference

This annual Conference, each fall, brings Association leaders and chapter members together from around the country.  Attendees hear motivational speakers, attend timely educational forums, sign-up for workshops, and develop a new appreciation for the breadth and scope of NMA.

Highlights of the Conference include the Member of the Year Award presentation, the NMA Hall of Fame induction, the presentation of the Executive of the Year, the Wilbur M. McFeely Award presentation, and the finals of the American Enterprise Speech Contest.  A special Recognition Luncheon honors all award-winning NMA chapters and councils.

For information about this year’s conference, go to NMA National Conference on the NMA Headquarters Home Page.

Three words characterize this unique Conference experience:

Recognition, Education, and Networking

Education Benefits

The idea for NMA’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) was an outgrowth of a thorough study of the training and development needs of our affiliated chapters and parent organizations.  The LRC is the centerpiece of NMA’s professional development operation and services our customers via three roles:

Through the LRC, NMA members may keep a record of their continuing education, request transcripts to verify their professional development accomplishments, receive CEU for their efforts, earn certificates of achievement in management studies, and even be eligible for college credit for completing selected NMA programs.

Through the myriad LRC offerings, NMA can show its chapters how to become value-added components of the parent organization or community.  Chapters are encouraged to work hand-in-glove with trainers and HRD professionals to supplement and support ongoing company programs, goals, and objectives.

The Association’s broader mission, through the chapters, is to serve not only the chapter members, themselves, but to become an increasingly valuable resource for upper management and training and development personnel.

Is There a Catalog for the LRC?

Yes, there are two.  We have the NMA Learning Resources Proprietary Catalog which contains a complete listing of NMA-developed courses.  Given are a description of each course, its length, number of CEU for which it qualifies, and purchase or rental prices.  In addition, there is the NMA Learning Resource Vendor Course Catalog.  It includes training materials developed by certain other companies with which we have agreements.  NMA sells these materials to its members, usually at a discount.  NMA members must order through NMA’s Professional Development Division in order to receive the discount.

NMA Awards Program

Public recognition given for a job well done stimulates members and improves individual performance and group performance alike.  Awards are means to an end – recognition that tangible milestones have been reached as we strive to reach intangible goals and ideals.  A complete description of all of the awards is found on the NMA Headquarters home page.

National Awards

Group Awards

Individual Awards for Chapters and Councils

Additional Member Benefits

There are additional benefits offered to NMA members.  Because of the size of the professional association, NMA is able to make a wide variety of group discounts and programs available.

In Short, NMA helps …

So, you want to become a member?

How about filling out a membership application form now?