from the chair
But for... AWB
Mike Schwenk
At AWB’ s Spring Meeting in Spokane, a local business owner came up and introduced himself. In the course of getting acquainted, he asked,“ Why should I join AWB?” Now, I am embarrassed to admit that I don’ t have a polished sales pitch like staff does( and where were they when I needed them!). And, to be honest, I don’ t recall ever being asked that question so directly. As a matter of fact, when first asked to consider a membership on behalf of my employer many years ago, a very skeptical me asked the same question.
What happened next is one of those moments I’ m sure we have all been through, when, without much thought, words came pouring out. And in such a way you wonder later where they all came from. Well, that“ later” is now, and I get it. It has been my privilege to serve AWB not just as a member, but as an attendee at many meetings, as a consumer of countless Fast Facts and Washington Business magazines, as a committee member, as a member of the board, as a member of the executive committee, as an officer, and yes, as chair— for two terms. Like any of us, if you do all that, long enough, you get to see, hear and experience a great deal. And you can’ t help but absorb it— a lot of it.
So when prompted by a genuinely curious peer about the value proposition of a membership, what came out was not a scripted response, but an emotional one. I’ ll give you the‘ Reader’ s Digest’ version: Business in this state is under siege, and it has been for a long while. Year after year, the gradual, incremental addition of taxes and regulations are contributing mightily to a deteriorating business climate. There is a continually evolving negative attitude about business that implies it is a necessary evil that must be kept in check, occasionally punished or penalized, and certainly asked to share more of the burden for the greater good.
To me, it is death by a thousand pin pricks. For most of the thousands of small and medium size businesses across the state, they are unaware of the deluge of disabling activities being proposed and ultimately enacted. And if they are aware, they feel powerless to act. That’ s where an institution like AWB comes in. Someone has to have the resources to be paying attention, to do the homework, to carry the voice of the business community into all the right places at the right time. A famous quote is that the world is run by those who show up. AWB shows up. I am so lucky to have become involved enough to see that happen— every day. As the conversation with my new acquaintance came to a close, Kris Johnson stopped by to introduce himself. The person shook Kris’ hand and said I had just sold him on a membership. I never even made the ask, but he“ got it.”
This is an amazing organization. It has been an honor to be part of this institution. We can and should all hold our heads high. You couldn’ t be making a better investment. But for AWB, we would not be enjoying nearly as much economic prosperity— prosperity made possible by the private-sector employers of Washington.
14 association of washington business