SOCAP Communities

Cindy Fritton, ConAgra Foods and SOCAP Chapter Relations Chair

SOCAP Chapters cover different regions of the United States and Canada.  They serve as a local gathering place for those consumer affairs professionals who want to build on their professional development.  SOCAP Chapter meetings also compliment SOCAP National events by providing a setting to learn from each other.

SOCAP chapter events are opportunities to really network and grow.  In the Heartland Chapter, we cover 4 states and usually meet in Omaha, Nebraska.  At these meetings I have the opportunity to network and learn how other businesses view good customer service and how they operate.  I am in food and beverage, but since we don’t have a lot of companies in the food and beverage industry in the Heartland Chapter, I have the opportunity to learn from other industries.  This gives me a broader view of customer care.  Before I really got involved, I didn’t know what I had at my disposal – both nationally and locally.  I have been able to benchmark our operations, use people as a sounding board and share my experience.

Over the last four years, I have grown as a person by taking on leadership roles within SOCAP.  Public speaking often comes to mind when assessing the value of leadership, but there are so many other avenues you can travel to develop your leadership skills.  For instance I have learned what is most important in budgeting, program development and meeting planning.  As president I try to impact every individual who shows up at a meeting.  I want those people to get a great return on their investment of time and money.

Our meetings are valuable because we drive meeting content depending on what is most important to members.  Because of our strong connection to SOCAP national, we know the most important topics nationally and as a board we look to impact people on the local level.  We want them to come away with something actionable that will positively influence their job.  We survey the members and our board has lively discussions on what is timely in the industry.

Meeting content is only part of the experience.  It is critical to meet and greet as many as you can at a meeting.  Our Heartland board tries to reach out and touch every member.  We try to give new members a real cooks-tour of what is going on with the chapter.  We also make sure we are giving them what they want.  We explain how we want them to participate and that they have a voice – we learn so much from each other.

At a typical Heartland Chapter meeting the board members greet everyone and check them in.  Then we introduce them to others and help them mingle.  The first 15 minutes is the President’s greeting and an explanation of the agenda for the day.  We have a program in the morning with a break, then one hour for lunch.  After, and sometimes during lunch we often have round-robin table topics.   Then there is an afternoon session that always ends with door prizes.  Sometimes there is another social event after that.

Most chapters have a board of directors with officers, however some newer chapters get started by holding meetings a few times a year until the interest grows into becoming a more formal organization.  I understand the reluctance to take a leadership position, but in Heartland we really support each other so that the burden is not too great on any one person.  We will come to the aid of anyone who has a work conflict or whatever prevents them from performing their duty.  Although the board members are willing to contribute on all levels and all are committed to a successful meeting, we all realize that work comes first.

I find that members often need a nudge to participate.  You search for people who are engaged, want to make a difference and want to make SOCAP successful.  But you don’t have to be a leader or a board member to make a difference.  There are opportunities to speak on panels, for sponsorships, for planning a meeting or bringing in a new member.    The key is to get involved, because what you get in return is immeasurable.

Your total SOCAP experience is most intense when national services are combined with those you receive in the local/regional SOCAP Chapter.  If you do not have a chapter in your area and would like to start one, get in touch with our national office or me.