Investment or Expense

In business we're all to aware of these two words. An investment usually means we expect some sort of return for the good money or time that we've expended. An expense can also bring us a return but often it is simply the "cost of doing business". It can be a capital expense or keeping the lights on. The expense allows us to do business.

The same can be said about your membership in the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association. You can go ahead and pay your dues without expecting much in return...an expense...or you can be wise about your "investment" and expect value and a return on your dues payment.

We really hope your view of NTPDA Membership is an investment. But, to really get the most of your membership it takes just a bit more. The return on your investment depends on your involvement.

I'm really not sure of another organization that gives as much back to its members as does the NTPDA. Recently we published a sheet of "benefits" that membership brings you...it filled nearly four pages. But, the trick is to use them...but to use them ya gotta know about them. One of them is our NTPDA Scholarship Program that we wrote about last month. To check out the others head to our website or follow this link.

Investment and Involvement are also linked with you and your company make the decision to be truly engaged in your association. You can do that through a number of ways:

• Volunteer - There is nothing like learning about the workings of your Board of Directors other than volunteering to work on a committee. This year our goal is to get more involvement from our Membership in a committee structure from Membership to Planning;
• Attend - Your association holds two events each year. Our Summer Meeting and our Annual Trade Show and Meeting. When you attend these you become involved in making sure your investment pays off. Real business ideas and solutions along with creating relationships with fellow members and the folks who supply us with goods and services.

In the end it's your choice. We know you've got a bunch on your plate. We all do. But, here is a way that you can get the most out of your NTPDA investment and that one word is..."Involvement".

Thanks for reading!