Associations loom as major force in socio-economic dev’t

Associations are emerging as a major force for social and economic development worldwide.

This was revealed by the Society of Association Executives-Philippines (SAE-Phil.), a non-profit, non-government entity envisioned to become the umbrella organizations of association executives all over the country.

Citing a statement from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), a briefing paper from the SAE-Phil and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. states:

"Associations are an enormous and diverse force for social and economic benefits in serving the public good through voluntary action and consensus-building activities. They set and enforce standards, conduct technical research, establish ethics, provide continuing education and cultivate and promote community service."

The ASAE is the leading society of 12,000 trade associations based in the US. ASAE chairperson Barbara Belmont describes associations as being in the unique position to be the catalysts for major development in the world today.

Belmont is among the foreign association executives who are coming over to Manila for the 8th World Congress of Association Executives slated at the Philippine International Convention Center on Feb. 23 to 24.

Among the foreign experts are president John Graham IV and executive management and international sections manager John Donaldson of the ASAE, executive director John Sullivan of the Center for International Private Enterprise, chief executive officer Peter Hermann of the Association for Information Management Professionals, president Andrea Sigler of the Connected International Meetings Professionals Association, CEO Francis Kong of Funworks Inc., and strategic partnerships director Michael Yates of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

Inquiries or local registration can be made with the SAE-Phil. Secretariat through the PCVC Conventions and Incentive Travel Unit (tel. 5259318 loc. 236, 5256110; fax 5216165; e-mail [email protected]; or website www.assnsworldcongressmla.com).

The congress is sponsored by the Philippine Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, The Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel, Globe Telecommunications Inc., Sun Cruises, and Insular Life Assurance Company Ltd.