---
title: "Walls Down, Arms Out: a Strategy to Embrace Members"
id: "5479"
type: "post"
slug: "walls-down-arms-out-a-strategy-to-embrace-members"
published_at: "2009-08-31T20:32:57+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-14T17:43:45+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2009/08/31/walls-down-arms-out-a-strategy-to-embrace-members/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2009/08/31/walls-down-arms-out-a-strategy-to-embrace-members.md"
excerpt: "TAPPI, an association serving the pulp, paper, and packaging industries, has recently led itself back to operational efficiency after experiencing budget los..."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Organizational Strategy"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "C-suite"
  - "Global Strategy"
  - "Membership"
  - "organizational change"
  - "YouTube"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Video"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "C-Level"
  - "Executive Team"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

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TAPPI, an association serving the pulp, paper, and packaging industries, has recently led itself back to operational efficiency after experiencing budget losses that amounted to more than $24 million across 10 years. To turn the association around, its staff and leadership embraced a new philosophy: walls down, arms out. At ASAE & The Centers 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, TAPPI CFO Eric Fletty delivered a Learning Lab about TAPPIs turnaround, and here he explains how walls down, arms out can help any association guide its membership strategy.

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

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Tags: [#C-suite](https://associationsnow.com/tag/c-suite/)
 [#Global Strategy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/global-strategy/)
 [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/)
 [#organizational change](https://associationsnow.com/tag/organizational-change/)

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