THtr SOUTHLANE

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

l\7f ANY times it is said that an as- IYI 5esi61ien exists on crises. Some association staff people are inclined to feel as if they are firemen, only on call in the event of a fire. only ri:sponding when there is a crisis; specialists in a highly sophisticated art!

It appears to me that an association had best be more than an entitv that survives on crises. It should be an organization that exists to solve those critical problems which arise as a result of federal, state and/or local legislation. It should be an entity that foresees the im- pact ofcertain legislation and takes the necessary steps to alleviate the pains of implementation. It should be an entity that can take a real or presupposed problem of an individual member and assist him in resolving it, provided it falls within the purview of the overall industry represented.

An association should be an entity that responds cheerfully to these problems, not one which looks upon every member's call as an unnecessary interruption. It should be an entity that is structured to develop plans for the future so that when tomorrow becomes today they rvill be prepared before it suddenly is yesterday.