As I was sitting down to write this installment of the NAID Update, it dawned on me that most of the time I comment on industry issues, give sales or business advice or provide insight on industry trends. So, for this last edition of the year, I thought it fitting to provide an update on the association’s condition.
While the association’s health is not as important as the success of its members, it is not without significance. NAID’s health indicates how well the organization is serving the needs of the industry as well as the organization’s ability to accomplish its mission.
Throughout the last 12 months, NAID has experienced it fastest growth ever, now serving 930 member companies. Our international growth and our growth in the e-destruction arena are also at an all-time high.
The association is also coming off a year that has seen the launch of more initiatives than ever before. Space does not permit listing the 20-plus new initiatives we launched, but among them are the release of the most successful marketing brochure ever, the establishment of the Health and Safety Committee, the appointment of NAID by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International to lead in the safety standards for our industry, the NAID Heads Up Health and Safety Program, the Peer to Peer Networking Program, the NAIDWise Healthcare Program and the launch of a new industry promotional campaign. In addition, NAID’s government relations committee continues to actively provide input to policymakers so that the issue of secure destruction is included in forthcoming legislation.
In the book From Good to Great, author Jim Collins states that great organizations try a lot of stuff. Not everything NAID does is a homerun. Sometimes it is not even an infield single. But in the end, the body of work the association continues to build is being increasingly recognized by the industry, by the consumer and by the government. With the ongoing support of its members, I am sure that a year from now, I will be able to truthfully state that 2008 was an even more productive year for your industry trade association. n
Bob Johnson is the executive director of the National Association for Information Destruction. He can be reached at exedir@naidonline.org.
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