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AQP Connections
Words From President Michael Glowacki
 Thank you,
members.
There is no message more important to deliver than
one of sincere gratitude to all of you who continue
to support, practice, and spread the concepts behind
achieving quality through participation. Think back
to 1978 and the first conference of the IAQC. Imagine
the presenters talking about quality, laying out the
foundations for participation, and ascribing to those
words meanings that are so very different from our
current interpretations. Quality was a watchdog and
participation was quality circles. Next, consider the
role played by our association in influencing first
the broad acceptance and then the evolution of those
concepts.
Today, the requirements of meeting or exceeding
customer expectations, facilitation, and leading
teams are included in the job descriptions of nearly
all managers and supervisors. This might cause an
observer of the current scene to assume that the need
for an AQP was never greater. We in the AQP certainly
hold that belief. The challenge for us, as members of
AQP, is to re-establish it as the preeminent provider
of support and education for those individuals and
businesses that aim to successfully compete in a
global economy.
Do You Know What Day It Is?
Anyone who has played sports at one time or
another has had his or her “bell rung.”
One of the first questions asked to determine whether
you are in condition to return to the game is,
“Do you know what day it is?” AQP had its
bell rung in the late ‘90s, and when our
affiliate, the American Society for Quality, asked
that question, our response was that it’s the
day we put the P—participation—back into
AQP.
The revitalization of AQP will be realized only
through the contributions of those for whom it
exists—the members. Your association needs
ideas and volunteers to support the development of
educational offerings, the Annual Conference, the
team excellence awards process, and to help us
identify better-focused member services and useful
topics for AQP publications. This is a big, open
field with room for everyone to play. It is
AQP’s intent to actively involve as many of its
members as possible. Participation is a few clicks
and pecks away at www.aqp.org . There you can
read a description of each committee and communicate
your desire to continue the work of your association
well into the future by completing an
application.
You’ll never know where this may lead. Seven
years ago, at a Quest for Excellence conference in
Washington, DC, an OD manager, left alone at a table
while his co-workers advanced on the breakfast
buffet, saw the AQP booth and had a thought.
Nervously approaching, he caught the eye of Cathy
Kramer, then executive director of the association,
who smiled warmly. He stammered out a desire to
become more involved in the decision-making
activities of AQP. Today, that guy is hoping
you’ll do the same at our AQP conference in New
Orleans. And with respect for that moment in 1996, I
promise to welcome you in with a warm smile. The
first thing I’ll ask is, “Do you know
what day it is?”
Michael Glowacki
MICHAEL GLOWACKI lives in Chicago with his
extended family. He has been an AQP member since 1984
and is currently employed as manager, organization
development, in the Elkay division of Elkay
Manufacturing Company. He earned an undergraduate
degree from Northwestern University and a
master’s degree in business administration from
Loyola University Chicago.
Call for Nominations
The road to quality has no map. You can provide
direction by volunteering or being nominated to serve
as a member of the AQP board of directors or
committee. AQP is led by volunteer leaders like you.
We restructured last year and the leadership
committee is looking for new people with new
ideas.
The board of directors takes office each July 1.
This spring the leadership committee invites you to
nominate someone to serve on the board or to nominate
yourself. There are four board positions open for
fiscal year 2003-04. The committee will look at
nominations, suggestions, and AQP committee members
when searching for potential new board
candidates.
The AQP board of directors is a volunteer board
striving to reflect the diversity of the professions
we serve, and will serve in the future. Members of
the board are supported by their organizations and
are expected to attend three meetings each fiscal
year (July 1-June 30); participate in approximately
six conference calls; and occasionally represent the
association at various other regional, national, or
local events as calendars permit. The terms of
service can be one-, two-, or three-year terms,
depending on an individual’s interest and other
factors.
Visit our Web site at www.aqp.org and fill out the
volunteer form. Or send the leadership committee
chair, Steve Gibbons, an e-mail at steve_gibbons@rsmi.com
. Give him the nominee’s name, title, company,
address, e-mail address, and telephone number, as
well as indicating the role you suggest for the
person. The leadership committee will try to consider
all nominees.
Be a participant, not just an observer. Help lead
AQP into the future.
Upcoming Education Courses
Facilitating Teams and Groups
Enhance
your facilitation skills to increase meeting
effectiveness, including communication and conflict
resolution, and to develop critical team roles and
responsibilities. (Four days)
February 24-27: New Orleans, LA
Instructor: Judy King
April 7-10: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Harold Kay
May 19-22: Kansas City, MO
Instructor: Doug Stark
Advanced Facilitation Skills
This
training, developed from a research study, is
invaluable and a great enhancement for professionals
who already have experience in facilitation. (Two and
one-half days)
 February 24-26:
New Orleans, LA
Instructor: Susan Smyth
April 7-9: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Denny Krause
May 21-23: Kansas City, MO
Instructor: Denny Krause
Conducting a Baldrige Assessment
This
training recognizes and meets the biggest challenges
of completing a self-assessment or applying for the
Baldrige Award. (One day)
February 23: New Orleans, LA
Instructor: Maryann Brennan
April 9: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Karen Hawley
May 18: Kansas City, MO
Instructor: Maryann Brennan
Baldrige Assessment for Education
Learn how to conduct an assessment using the 2003
Baldrige Award Criteria for Education and the AQP
10-step assessment process. (Two days)
April 7-8: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Karen Hawley
Building High Performance Teams
Using
interactive exercises, this course will teach
students how to work in teams for optimal
performance. (Two days)
April 7-8: Scottsdale, AZ,
Instructors: Pete Grazier and Ray Martin
Lean Thinking Applied to Services and
Administrative Functions
While its roots
are in manufacturing, this training emphasizes the
Lean Thinking philosophy and the powerful way it is
designed to eliminate waste from processes in the
services and administrative functions as well. (Two
days)
April 7-8: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Sylvia Bushell
The Leader’s Role in Changing
Organizations
This recently updated course
equips supervisors, team leaders, and managers with
skills and techniques to meet the challenges of
leading in a changing work environment. (Two
days)
April 7-8: Scottsdale, AZ
Instructor: Jim Rollo
Achieving Breakthroughs in Business Performance
Through Process Improvement
In a business
environment where survival demands extraordinary
improvement in business performance, success has been
achieved in every industry through process-based
transformation. (Two days)
May 21-23: Kansas City, MO
Instructor: Sheldon Enger
Emotional Intelligence: Leading and
Managing
This training offers a direct link
and understanding between emotional intelligence and
leadership performance and gives leaders specific
ways to improve their performance that promotes
productivity and quality. (Two days)
May 17-18: Kansas City, MO
Instructor: Adele Lynn
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