According to the Australian Marketing Institute’s latest Directors Report and Annual Accounts, it made a net operating loss of $176,072 for the year ending 30^th June 2009 compared to a surplus of $92,340 in the previous year.

It details an operating loss built on the back of a net increase in membership of 2.8%, a 15.7% net increase in Certified Practising Marketer’s (CPM) and a 9% increase in function revenue. The loss means that the Institutes cash reserve has now been reduced by nearly a third.

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OMG! Is it true? The Australian Marketing Institute is actually having state elections in NSW, elections where members can actually vote for real candidates. Something I’ve been calling on for years.

I would like to encourage all AMI members in NSW to VOTE! It doesn’t matter if you agree with me or not, this is your chance to make a difference and have your say in the future direction of the Institute and the marketing profession.

Image by jrbrubaker

If you are going to vote do it quickly, your ballot paper has to be returned by post or in person to the nominated address, which must be received by 5pm on 28^th September 2009.

There are 9 candidates for 5 vacancies on the NSW State Council.

Here is my ‘How to Vote Card’ for change:

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I’m not one for marketing or advertising awards. I don’t know anyone who enters them and I’m a little bit suspicious about who decides the winner. But saying that…if I was involved and won, I’m sure I’d be the first to jump up and down in self promotion.

So, I’d like to congratulate the winners of the 2009 Australian Marketing Institute Awards for Marketing Excellence for New South Wales. However, except for the NRMA campaign, I haven’t heard or seen any of the winning campaigns. 

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The call has gone out for the 75^th Annual General Meeting of the Australian Marketing Institute and nominations for election of members as state councillors. But does the Australian Marketing Institute actually have formal elections?

On the Australian Marketing Institute website it says “The Members guide the policy and priorities of the Institute through elected State Councils and a National Board of Directors” which is like saying they believe marketers should respect the judgement of their marketing elders or in this case, elected officials. Yes, of course…no problem.

But when did members last get a chance to actually vote for or listen to the differing opinions and ideas of each candidate?

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The Australia Marketing Institute has at last scheduled another event for the unloved marketer’s of Newcastle. Two events a year is not enough!

The ‘Strategic Perspective’ seminar brings together three speakers to present on differing aspects of strategic marketing. An artform that in my opinion is somewhat forgotten by many companies wrongly mistaking operational excellence and marketing tactics with strategic marketing.

I don’t want to give this event the marketing kiss of death, but I do hope these speakers don’t make the same mistake. I can’t wait to find out.

Al Ries and Jack Trout once made the point, “Strategy should evolve out of the mud of the marketplace, not in the antiseptic environment of an ivory tower.” I would like to make the same point to the AMI.

The Strategic Perspective seminar is planned for Tuesday 25 August 2009

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