SOCAP Communities

Matthew D'Uva, President, SOCAP International

Happy New Year!  In 2011, our goal is not only to increase both the amount of information and programs available to you as members, but to also offer multiple and diverse access points for you to interact, engage and benefit from SOCAP!

Within this e-newsletter, you will hear directly from your volunteer leaders, Susan Baranowsky (Campbell Soup Company), your 2010 Board Chair, and Cheryl Duwve (Roche Diagnostics), your 2011 Board Chair.  In both messages, you will hear a common and familiar theme – member engagement.   The success of SOCAP relies on your engagement, input and energy.

In Cheryl’s 2011 message, she articulates a clear vision and direction for SOCAP as well as a key challenge to all members – “Say Yes to SOCAP!”  As your professional staff team, we are working hard to maximize the opportunities for you to be engaged, involved and active within SOCAP.   To that end, we are broadening the programming options available to you as well as expanding and diversifying our communication channels to provide you with access and information to the resources you need to advance your company and your career.

Our 2011 programming calendar will be expanded.  In addition to enhancing our two national conferences with innovative programming and relevant keynote speakers, expanding our Data Reporting Workshop and our Automotive Summit and adding new programs through our SOCAP Chapters and Communities, we are also continuing to expand our online resources through:

• Enhanced Webinar Series – We have increased the frequency of SOCAP webinars and will be making them available at no cost to all SOCAP corporate members.
• New Online Courses – For a deeper look at relevant topics affecting our profession, we will launch three online courses:  Managing recalls effectively, operationalizing your social customer strategy and understanding the basics of customer care in a more engaged, social world.
• Improved SOCAP Website – We will be adding new online resources to our website, including more podcasts (like the one included in this newsletter), white papers from our various communities, a new online resource library to be launched later this year, and a digital version of CRM Magazine to enhance your ability to access, research and archive the important information in our magazine.  (Note:  We will continue to publish the magazine in hard copy.)

As we increase the value of your membership, we hope that you will say “Yes” to these great programs and resources that will support your professional growth.

Additionally, we need your involvement, time and talents to help SOCAP flourish.  There are so many ways for you to say “Yes” and, as Cheryl points out, you reap the benefits of participation when you:

• Renew Your Membership: All memberships coincide with the calendar year.  Therefore, if you have not renewed your membership, contact the SOCAP Office to ensure that your membership is current.  Email Chad Fawcett (chad@socap.org) if you are not sure if your membership is current.
• Serve on a National Committee: I invite you to serve on one of our national committees.  SOCAP committees support all of our national programs and communities.  Email me directly (matthew@socap.org) if you are interested in more information about serving on a committee.
• Share Your Success: We need your case studies, best practices and content expertise to help us enhance our program offerings, which includes providing ideas for articles in our magazine, podcasts and our website.  Email Brian Cheung (brian@socap.org) to share your successes with us.
• Engage With SOCAP: Join us on the SOCAP Blog (http://www.socap.org/Networking/Blogs.aspx) and share your thoughts and ideas regarding the profession.  Also, participate in our discussion boards or engage with us on Twitter (@SOCAP) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SOCAP).   Your thoughts, comments and questions are always welcome.

The last few years have brought tremendous change, opportunities and challenges for nearly everyone, including SOCAP.  We understand that the number of projects, goals, budgets, and contacts that you are managing continues to increase while the resources available to manage these priorities may remain steady or decline.  We also recognize that your time is a valuable and treasured asset, and we hope that you will give some of your time by saying “Yes” to SOCAP and give us a chance to support you in your role as a customer relationship expert.

I look forward to speaking to you regularly throughout the year from my new blog and via our other online channels.  In the interim, I wish you a happy and prosperous 2011. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Matthew D’Uva