--- title: "Jeffrey Cufaude: A Leader’s Mission Should Be To Serve" id: "15343" type: "post" slug: "jeffrey-cufaude-a-leaders-mission-should-be-to-serve" published_at: "2013-01-14T22:33:58+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:04:50+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/01/14/jeffrey-cufaude-a-leaders-mission-should-be-to-serve/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/01/14/jeffrey-cufaude-a-leaders-mission-should-be-to-serve.md" excerpt: "Why member services should come before self-interest, Jeffrey Cufaude exclaims. Also: Hollywood’s award season serves as inspiration for event professionals." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "award shows" - "event planning" - "inspiration" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Jeffrey Cufaude: A Leader’s Mission Should Be To Serve Being a leader can be multifaceted position. In the association world, leaders know it’s all about making decisions, being innovative, and serving members. But have some lost their innovative eye? If so, Jeffrey Cufaude has a message for them. That and more in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Let’s be better > +100 RT [@kikilitalien (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/kikilitalien?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Love this post! >> Is This the Best We Can Be? [http://t.co/7vFffpib (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/7vFffpib) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#ideas13 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ideas13?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > | [@jcufaude (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/jcufaude?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Karin Hedetniemi (@karinhedet) [January 14, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/karinhedet/status/290898525775085569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Does it feel like self-interest is winning out over member interest?**[Idea Architects’ Jeffrey Cufaude poses the question (opens in a new tab)](http://www.ideaarchitects.org/2013/01/is-this-best-we-can-be.html) , relaying an anecdote of a recent meeting he attended with staff and leaders of a professional association. According to Cufaude, the association’s mission and vision were more profit-oriented than focused on serving its members’ needs. During the meeting, he learned how business-oriented professional associations have become. “Truth be told, a significant percentage of association strategic planning sessions could yield mission and vision statements just like this. Let’s kill the competition and make us number one,” he writes. He brings the attention back to the most basic purpose for professional associations: What can associations do to better serve their members? *(ht [@karinhedet (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/karinhedet/status/290898525775085569) )* ### Steal Some Inspiration From Hollywood > Did the [#goldenglobes (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/goldenglobes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > get you in the mood for some award show season fun? Here’s some event inspiration: [http://t.co/acFa0lx4 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/acFa0lx4) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Social Tables (@socialtables) [January 14, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/socialtables/status/290908842424926208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Award-show season is one of the most anticipated** times of the year for Hollywood. Event professionals can take notes from the organization and scheduling of these lengthy shows. They engage a wide audience, from their attendees to TV viewers at home and, of course, social media critics. The Social Tables blog [put together a list (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.socialtables.com/2013/01/11/friday-pinterest-finds-award-show-parties/) of some of the most inspiring Hollywood award-show looks. And for more inspiration, check out [Biz Bash‘s roundup (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bizbash.com/golden_globes_inside_parties_from_in_style_hbo_nbc_the_weinsteins_amc_fox_and_more/washington/story/25037) of the HFPA’s 70th Annual Golden Globes after-parties. *(ht [@socialtables (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/socialtables/status/290908842424926208) )* What cool stuff have you read online today? Let us know in the comments. [Anita Ferrer](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Tags: [#award shows](https://associationsnow.com/tag/award-shows/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#inspiration](https://associationsnow.com/tag/inspiration/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoGlenn Tecker address where he finds energy and inspirationNovember 25, 2008](https://associationsnow.com/2008/11/25/glenn-tecker-address-where-he-finds-energy-and-inspiration/) - [Video2026 Summit Awards DinnerOctober 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/02/2026-summit-awards-dinner/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F01%2F14%2Fjeffrey-cufaude-a-leaders-mission-should-be-to-serve%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !