Walls Down, Arms Out: a Strategy to Embrace Members

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.