President's Article Initiating Supply Management Excellence By Beatrice S. Wiest, C.P.M., President NAPM-Orange County, Inc.

If I could remember who was the author of the phrase, “Nothing is as constant as change”— I would give proper credit.

NAPM-OC has undergone some important changes recently.

The office has moved to 1651 East 4th Street, Suite 251 in Santa Ana and, besides having an office for our Executive Secretary, we now have a location to hold meetings, seminars and workshops.

The first C.P.M. class of our 2001-2002 series was held on Saturday, August 11 at the new office. Led by Merle Roberts, C.P.M. the class had 15 attendees. The previous roaming C.P.M. classes were held at borrowed facilities at Steelcase in Santa Ana and then at Parker Hannifin in Irvine.

Within the next year, we will also be making many changes:

1st Annual Supplier Management Showcase .. will be held on March 22nd. This will be a “Reverse Trade Show” in which the buyers display their items and the sales people walk around and offer solutions.

The “June Forum” has been renamed “The Forum,” which allows us to move it to a different month in order not to compete with the many commitments associated with June. All it lacks is a chairperson, won’t you please volunteer to lead this new Forum?

We have a newly appointed chair for Educational Resources in JoAnne Mungari, C.P.M., who will be leaving her “House” duties and leading a crew of volunteers.

Another new venture is the “Change—Your Path Forward” an evening seminar series that will be conducted by our very own Bobbie Ascarate. This is the first time that we are presenting a seminar series that will build on itself and prepare us to meet the challenges of change.

Other new concepts that are being developed are study groups, focus groups and small instructional seminars on “How to.” These groups would meet at the office lead by a facilitator who can help our members enhance their knowledge.

Having an office that is accessible to all will greatly enhance our value to our members. A library does exist, and with the donation of volumes both by our members, or by acquisition, it can be expanded to serve the needs of our members.

It was with the greatest appreciation that I got to introduce all the committee chairpersons at the dinner meeting held on August 16th, they are:

Sara Arhlen, C.P.M., Administrative Support Committee
(in charge of all our by-laws, job descriptions)

Merle Roberts, C.P.M., Certification Committee

Skip Kay, C.P.M., Communications Committee
(keeping our members informed of up-coming events)

JoAnne Mungari, C.P.M., Educational Resources Committee
(seminars, satellite classes, workshops & dinner programs)

George Nagy, C.P.M., Finance/Budget Committee
(ensuring association’s moneys are used thriftily & wisely)

Gloria Flanagan, Marketing Committee
(acquainting all with the benefits of membership & its value)

Reba Johnsen and JoAnn Johnson, C.P.M.,
Membership Committee
(helping new members feel welcome and familiar with
association benefits)

Maryann Webb, Volunteer Coordinator
(plugging volunteers in where they can grow)

Jill Alvarez, C.P.M., Website Committee
(assuring accurate, timely information at napmoc.org)

We no longer will be publishing a hard copy membership directory, since each member will be on the website, with the capability to update their personal data in real time.

We are in need of a House Chairperson, to replace JoAnne Mungari, C.P.M. who has moved to lead Educational Resources. So, if you’d be interested in establishing our monthly meeting menus please see me.

We also need a group of volunteers with a leader to assume tasks related to the Forum as we look forward to our 41st annual event—a perennial success.

We have Two Special Requests

• Are there any Purchasing, Supply Chain, and/or Career-enhancing books you would like to donate to the NAPM-Orange County office for the benefit of all? We will accept any business book in good condition.
  
  
• Also, do you, as a former Board member, have copies of any our our old board minutes? We have gathered all our old board minutes, going as far back as 1957, but, unfortunately, some gaps exist, if you have any old board minutes, please send them to the office so we can complete our history.