As a former chairman of the IFA franchisee forum, I had the privilege of attending last month’s IFA Summer Board and Forum Meetings at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City, Michigan. While I was only there for a portion of the four-day event, my attendance allowed me to catch up with colleagues, meet some new people and stay current with some of the great things the IFA is involved in.
I’ve been involved with the IFA for a long time and have played a role in helping the organization further its mission of protecting, enhancing and promoting franchising. And while I’m proud to have done my part, I’m even more excited to see what they are doing today. With excellent leadership in place, and having grown in every way, the IFA is moving to a higher level by adding tremendous value and more engagement opportunities for everyone in the franchise industry.
To help achieve their goals, the IFA held a wine auction during the meeting, which raised over $200,000 to donate to the IFA’s Political Action Committee, “FranPAC.” These funds are critical to the IFA’s legislative work in Washington, D.C., which is becoming increasingly important as minimum wage regulations and issues related to the National Relations Labor Board threaten our industry. The involvement in Washington D.C. is a big deal; by showing up and representing the franchising community, the IFA pushes back against issues that could potentially hurt franchisees.
With only about 100 attendees in Traverse City, the Summer Board and Forum meeting is the smallest IFA event each year. It’s also the time when the most work is accomplished by the participants as a group. As we reflect on all of the good work this organization does to help our industry move forward, it’s important to remember that the Board and Forums work is all done by volunteers who are committed to improving the franchise industry – not just for themselves, but for everyone.
We should all be extremely grateful for their dedication; I know I am! Thanks to those volunteers and the IFA Staff for a job well done!
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John Francis is a consultant, strategic advisor and keynote speaker who helps franchise organizations “see what they don’t see” and achieve their highest levels of success. In his 25+ year career, John has worked as a franchisee, franchisor, investor and Board Member for brands and organizations such as Cost Cutters, PostNet, Sport Clips, Office Pride and the International Franchise Association (IFA). To learn more about John, visit www.johnwfrancis.com.
Copyright © 2015 by John Francis. All rights reserved
