INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
New England Chapter

Very Last Memo from the Prez
(Honest!)

My five-year reign as president of IMCNE closes out this week, ending for good on, gasp, Friday the 13th! I feel a bit like an Oscar winner as my final moment approaches in that there have been so many great IMCNErs over these years who have helped me transform the chapter that I dare not single anyone out for kudos lest I inadvertently leave out someone else.

Frequently when I would sit down to convene an IMCNE Board meeting during my terms, I would find myself blurting out, “This is the best Board of Directors a president could hope for!” I really did this more than once, even while the faces of many of those around the table had changed compared to the last time I had said it. That should give you an idea just how good volunteer activists in this organization have been over the years. Adjectives like dedication, creativity, integrity and action come quickly to mind, describing actual Board officers and non-Board volunteers alike as their countless achievements enabled New England consultants to grow their practices and keep them in good health.

Now, as I take my leave, I look toward a new phase of service to IMCNE. As Immediate Past President certain expected duties follow automatically: For one, I will be responsible next year for assisting President Carol Bergeron draw up the 2006-2007 nomination slate and I’ll be conducting the confirmation proceedings at Annual Meeting 2006. Of course in keeping with IMCNE tradition, I’ll also be involved in planning my presidential library, to be housed in a 19th century cottage once occupied by Henry David Thoreau, following in the footsteps of my predecessors Brad Hosmer CMC (on the grounds of the Franklin Pierce House in Concord NH) and Brooks Fenno CMC (a stone hut on a cliff at La Quebrada in Acapulco).

Beyond these items, I’ll also be filling a new role that was created this year for the Immediate Past President. As one-third of our new chapter Office of the President (OOP) structure (with the Prez and Prez-elect), I’ll serve as our chapter liaison and ADVOCATE to National. Historically, decisions from IMC National have not always been particularly advantageous to its chapters, caused in large part I believe by our heavily top-down organizational structure. As your advocate I plan to do whatever I can to fan the flames of chapter rebellion with an eye toward altering or even overturning this organizational power structure. In other words: Bottoms up!

But for this week, I will simply pass on the IMCNE baton to Carol Bergeron this Friday, then serve up your questions to Alan Weiss CMC as the “rock star of consulting” once again contributes his special insights to us all. Not for nothing did we present a new award last year to Alan, our “Lifetime Contribution Award,” especially in that it was his own generous service that inspired this award in the first place.

Happy trails,

Ken Lizotte CMC
President

NOTE: Since Alan’s programs always sell out, if you haven’t registered yet, better hop to it now. Click here to do so www.imcne.org and I’ll see you there!