State: Your Business!
by Belinda Judson
Executive Director, Mid-States NATO
I had the privilege, over
the last couple of months, of attending some NATO state/regional
meetings. This allows
me to get acquainted with the inner workings of these state
units. As a result, I always return from these events with
feelings of amazement, gratitude and pride. Let me tell
you why:
Amazement. The level
of volunteer commitment exhibited by chapter leadership
and membership amazes. In spite of
the challenges of running their own operations, these
people take the time to contribute to the welfare of
their state
units.
Since I monitor state
legislation, I am certainly aware of the increasingly
high level of activity in the state
legislatures. Often times, state legislative proposals
have required concerted efforts by exhibitors to prevent
bills from becoming new laws that would be harmful
to the industry. Volunteers in the states have made themselves
available when called upon to contact their representatives,
launch in-theatre campaigns or even go to their capitols
to testify when necessary.
Many of the volunteers
working on state legislation feel strongly (and rightly
so) that by defeating onerous
legislative
proposals in their own states, they are also helping
exhibitors throughout the country – since specific
legislative issues have a tendency to spread from
state to state.
While monitoring and
reporting state legislation is a very important function
of a regional unit,
its member
volunteers
spend their time in various other ways that are
also necessary for a healthy association.
Many serve on a board of directors to help steer
the state/regional unit. The officers and directors
often
take time out to
attend several meetings per year to conduct business
that is beneficial to the membership.
Volunteers serve on other important committees
to contribute to the cause. For example, an “annual conference
committee” helps put together programming
for the state meetings. These conferences enable
members to network
with peers, interact with venders and studio exhibitor
relations personnel and attend educational sessions.
All of these pieces help exhibitors gain knowledge
that will
help them be more successful in their own operations.
Members contribute time
to implement and run important scholarship programs.
Many committee members also
spend countless hours judging applications in
order to select
award recipients. Not only does a scholarship
program help honor the exhibition industry’s deserving
student employees, it provides an excellent way for the
regional
unit and its members to give something back to
the industry.
Some units have volunteers
who contribute to
bulletins or newsletters. These missives help
the membership
stay abreast of what’s happening in their
region, be it legislation or other news.
Many exhibitors do not
limit their service to the state or regional units. Often
they
are also
members
of NATO’s
national chapter and volunteer to work on
federal issues. Several serve on NATO committees,
attend NATO board meetings,
participate in events such as Hill Day, contact
federal lawmakers when necessary or make
themselves available to
NATO in whatever way is helpful.
Gratitude. I am extremely
grateful that we have the type of members in our state
and
regional units who
have the
kind of passion for the industry that makes
them
such dedicated volunteers.
While some of the units
have paid executive directors to handle the day-to-day
business
of the association,
coordinate
programs and spearhead legislative efforts,
they would not be successful without
the participation of their
volunteers. I am sure NATO’s officers
would say the same.
Pride. I am very
proud of the work that
is being undertaken by the state and
regional units. While
the challenges
are many, everyone is doing a great
job – from the paid
leadership to the volunteer leadership
to the members.
By being active participants
in their regional units, exhibitors are making
a huge contribution,
not only
to their units
but to the industry as a whole. They
are doing so by investing time in
educating themselves and others
for
the betterment
of theatre operations and by helping
to
keep a healthy state legislative
environment in
which to do business.
Thanks to them for helping
to improve the “state” of
the business! 
