Dear IMC USA Members:

As IMC USA National Board Chair, it is my responsibility to keep you informed of our financial and operational status. It is also my pleasure to describe our vision and strategy. Many of your colleagues are working incredible hours on your behalf to make this vision a reality and you should be pleased with the transformation of IMC USA into a forum for the advancement of effective management and the voice of the management consulting profession. 

Over the past few months, IMC USA has created some valuable benefits for members. Everything from budgets to services to market presence has changed rapidly – and for the better. In every area of Get Smart, Get Known and Get Business, we are rolling out benefits and services directed at chapters and members. 

There is too much news to put in one email which is why, over the next few weeks, I will describe in a series of messages the changes that IMC USA has already put in place and how these can improve your professional skills and client services and help grow your business. Let’s start with our budget.

As of now, IMC USA is running a positive cash flow. Over the past few years we have been burdened by a large debt that we were only paying off slowly. Last year, we went on a strict financial diet, and, we kept IMC USA afloat while we strengthened the organization, largely on the efforts of dozens of volunteers. We recognize the reduction in some services caused some members inconvenience, but we are well past that point and have increased member service staff and streamlined service processes. 

The result of this belt-tightening is that IMC USA is totally out of debt. We will finish 2006 with a positive cash flow while paying off our debt ahead of schedule. While at Confab, the Board recently passed the 2007 budget, which significantly expands member services while building a cash reserve. Some highlights, with an emphasis on chapters: 

•  Fully funds chapter allocations 
•  Pays almost the entire chapter allocation in March instead of spreading it out over the year 
•  Establishes a reserve fund to be fully funded in five years at half of IMC USA's annual expenses 
•  Establishes a Chapter Presidents Council Initiative Fund of $10,000 to provide grants for chapter ideas (including support for a Chapter Leadership Conference where chapter officers meet and share best practices)
•  Significantly increases funds for marketing and branding of IMC USA and the CMC, membership development, chapter and national sponsorship development, and streamlining of certification and renewal.
•  Kicks off development of non-dues revenue sources, an increase to 40% of revenues by 2010 up from the current 5% 

In future messages, I will discuss:   

• IMC USA’s creation of a coalition of world class organizations through strategic alliances, all focused on improving management effectiveness but resulting in vastly expanded market presence for IMC USA and the CMC, as well as direct benefits for individual members.
• New services to help you Get Smart (the IMC USA Academy for Professional Development, strategic partner resources, the Grande Conference for Consulting, online discussion forums and a resource library).
• New services to help you Get Known (marketing and branding activities like articles, press releases about the IMC USA and the CMC, new website capabilities to raise your profile to clients, and an expanded consultant referral service).
• New services to help you Get Business (business partnerships with several organizations who will use IMC USA members as preferred providers of consulting services).
• Certification and renewal, including an explanation of how the coming ISO registration of management consultants is based on the CMC and the streamlining and automation of the process.
• The new IMC USA website with integration of member data, online certification tracking, hosting and shared functionality across chapter websites. 

This is an exciting year and the IMC USA and chapter leadership, as well as your professional colleagues, appreciate your continued support of the premier professional association for management consultants in the USA. Please talk to your chapter president about these exciting new benefits of membership or contact me directly to discuss how you might contribute your expertise and time to make the IMC USA even greater. 

Sincerely,  

Mark R. Haas CMC, National Board Chair
Institute of Management Consultants USA, INC.