It was a time - much like this 30 years ago - that motivated me to return to school for advanced study. My first professional job was in a nonprofit health-related organization. So..I thought my future study would focus on public health.

But unexpectedly, while combing through graduate programs on public health, I found a "Community Psychology" program (PsychoSocial Science/MPsSc) at Penn State Univ. It promised I would understand organizations as social systems: learn how to assess the underlying root problems/real issues affecting its dysfunction (or functionality), learn how to discern where the power and influence lie...but most important .... learn how to develop an intervention strategy to achieve a desired change.

Intrigued but uncertain of its use, I pursued it. Before I even finished, I found myself as a community organizer in Harrisburg, PA - working on issues of teenage pregnancy and adolescent sexuality. And through that job...I was eventually introduced to a remarkable woman (Tin My Thein, Ph.D.) who would become my first boss in my first association (American Association of University Women) in Washington, DC.

And it was then I realized how this advanced degree in "community psychology" would have value. From the get-go, I knew these organizations had a significant role to play in our society. And, that the members of these organizations were not only 'agents of change' for their profession...but for one another. That experience and perspective has been reinforced ten-fold over the years. And I have become passionate about these organizations and their ability to provide a transformative personal and professional experience for both members and professional staff.

Fast forward to today. We've done an exceptional job at learning the business practices necessary to operate these organizations; sometimes at the expense of cultivating the membership community. These organizations at the start were no more than "supra-geographic communities." The opportunity we have as we move forward is to retain the sound business practices while learn more productive ways of building, shaping and transforming the membership community as well.

As we move foward, we expect to have more questions than answers....for that will ignite a desire to seek that which can be.....rather than accept the notion that the status quo is as good as we can get.

In what ways have you had a remarkable experience in working with or listening to members?