Archive for the ‘TNNA's Structure’ Category

If you haven’t had a chance to take a look at the most recent TNNA newsletter, I urge you to do so.

I realize how busy all our members are.  All TNNA members, Retailers and Wholesalers, as well as others involved in the needlearts industry, certainly have their hands full  . . . regardless of the economy.  So, now is no different than any other time.

It’s even more important now that our members stay informed about what’s going on with TNNA.  The newsletter includes valuable information about the many programs and services the association offers, the structure of the organization, as well as the activities of the product segment groups.

The opportunities to be involved in the association and the industry are myriad . . . and as members, your involvement is essential to our future.

So, please take a minute to find out what’s happening.  Visit TNNA.org, log in, and take a look.You’ll be glad you did.

One of the goals of this blog is to make the composition and workings of the association more transparent.  Although a diagram of the structure of the organization is posted on TNNA.org,  if you’re not used to some of the terminology, it can all appear to be Greek.

As a start to explaining the association, let’s first look at the Board of Directors.

TNNA recently announced our 2009 – 2010 Board of Directors.  Mike Hartnett included our newly elected officers in his latest CLN edition, even.  You can see them all by going to TNNA.org (click here). There’s also contact information available.

Each year in September at the annual Board meeting, things shift.  Some Board members leave; new members assume their new positions.  To many general TNNA members and to the industry as a whole, this all happens in the background.  The truth is, this is the heart of the organization where decisions are made and actions are determined.

The group is really very comprehensive, and I want to stress here . . . They are all volunteers!

There are nine Wholesale Members, the Immediate Past President, each Product Segment Chair (Yarn Group, Needlepoint Group, Counted Thread & Embroidery) and the Retail Council Representative.  The Board includes a President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, as well as three standing committees: finance, nominating and marketing.

There’s also the Retail Council . . . again made up of volunteers . . . from all of the needlearts disciplines. The Retail Council acts as the governing body for the Retail Section and includes seven members.  These retailers act on one of three standing committees: communications, business services and education.

So, have I put you to sleep yet?  Like I said, this isn’t on everyone’s mind all the time.  What is on your mind is how to get the association to work for you . . . and that’s why this is important to note.

These board members come together to assess and refine.  They work to understand the past and bring us into the future.  They represent all our members and their opinions and interests . . . but they really need to know how our members feel and think in order to best represent the entire “group.”

That’s where you all come in.  We’ve published their contact information on purpose.  In taking on the board position, they each have dedicated themselves to making TNNA stronger, and our industry stronger.

So get in touch with them.  TNNA really does belong to our members.  The organization’s strength comes from our members; our future relies on our members.