Philadelphia’s formula for success
In 1978-1979, Philadelphia’s membership increased by 35 percent-from 88 to a total of 119. This year’s chapter president, Joann DePalantino, reported that the chapter sent out a mailing to all AMA members in the vicinity, as well as to local businesses, to recruit their middle management. The results proved the chapter’s efforts to be worthwhile.
One of the major reasons given by DePalantino for the success of the Philadelphia chapter is the persona of the 1978-79’s chapter president and current chairman of the board, Vincent DePaolo. “Vince has been an S.A.M. member for 20 years and has always held an office,” explained DePalantino. “He had many goals and was very organized in meeting them. It was his motivation that got the officers moving on increasing our membership.”
DePaolo also helped to cement a strong working relationship between the chapter’s board of directors and its operating officers. “And this relationship is what really helps to keep our chapter active,” DePalantino said.
Active is certainly an apt word to use in describing the Philadelphia chapter. Along with regular monthly meetings and plant tours, the chapter gives out awards to a Philadelphia-area “Executive of the Year” (last year’s winner was the head of Bell of Pennsylvania) and bestows the “Russell Moore Award” upon the student chapter with the highest score among area schools in the Campus Chapter Performance Program.
The chapter keeps in close touch with 19 student chapters in its area-including the two newest ones at Holy Family College and Immaculata College. Kudos in that department go to the vice-president of student chapters, Neil Jasper. Jasper holds several conglomerate meetings during the year for officers of the student chapters in the area. And students are always invited to attend senior meetings. DePalantino reported that usually about 10-15 students attend each meeting.
Student members of S.A.M. in the Philadelphia area tend to continue their membership in S.A.M. by joining the senior chapter after graduation. This year, nine out of ten of the operating officers are recent college graduates. In fact, DePalantino’s vice-president is husband Albertjohn. When the two were students at LaSalle College, Albertjohn was chapter president, and Joann was vice-president.
The Philadelphia chapter has several members who earned individual honors in the Society in 1979. The Professional Manager grade was awarded to Floyd Justice; Daniel J. Cantor was named a Fellow of the Society; and Dr. Samuel
Wilson was named to the national board of di rectors as national vice-president, finance.
The purpose of the outstanding chapter performance award program is to reward those chapters that best meet the goals they set down for the coming year. The officers of Philadelphia’s chapter sought to meet their goals through a Management by Objectives (MBO) approach-and it worked beautifully. Perhaps it’s the youthful energy of Philadelphia’s chapter officers, combined with the seasoned managerial skills of its membership, that keeps the chapter so busy. But whatever the secret of its success, the chapter is certainly hard at work keeping the art and science of good management alive in Philadelphia. SAM-NI
This SAM News International article is from our historical archive, information provided is for reference and archival research about the activities and developments of the Society.