By William R. Fitz, Vice-President Pittsburgh Chapter
After I assumed responsibility for setting up the 1976-1977 program schedule of the Pittsburgh Chapter, I found myself developing a personal theme to help coordinate the direction of the year’s programs. This theme-which can be summed up as “Opportunities for Managerial Involvement” became a touchstone for deciding on particular program topics and selecting the most appropriate speaker on a given subject.
My experience taught me that getting together with a speaker on date, time, and topic can be a delicate task, so care must be taken to allow both the speaker and the scheduler himself (or herself) a little leeway in finalizing these details. A scheduler should, of course, give himself plenty of lead time in securing speakers, and flexibility may also be required, in deference to the schedule demands of a top corporate official. For example, if a chapter normally holds meetings on the third Thursday of each month, it may be necessary to change this to the second Wednesday to accommodate a top speaker. As for academicians, these speakers’ presentations should be scheduled to avoid such “pressure periods” as examination dates and end-of-school-year activities.
One area in which the scheduler must take the lead is the choice of presentation titles. Since the purpose of a program is to attract-as well as inform S.A.M. members, titles should be stimulating and eye-catching. Finally, thought should be given to making all programs a bit out of the ordinary for those attending. Rather than simply giving “nuts-and-bolts” recitations of managerial principles, we should provide experiences that allow managers to get a look at “the big picture.” Being exposed to new and exciting experiences is one of the purposes of S.A.M., and it is the responsibility of the program director to see that this happens.
The Pittsburgh Chapter schedule for 1976-77 is as follows:
The Cost of Public Employment Programs. Dr. Martin S. Feldstein, Professor of Economics, Harvard University. Whither Energy Independence? Robert Seymour, Chairman, Consolidated Natural Gas Co.
Human Relations Award. Marcel la Goldberg. Future Energy Sources. Sam F. Iacobellis, President, Atomics International Division, Rockwell International Corp.
Putting Your Head Above the Parapet and Student Chapter Night. Dr. John Oswald, President, The Pennsylvania State University.
The Financial Crisis in the Social Security System. Dr. Robert S. Kaplan, Professor of Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University.
Tax Reform-Capital and Job Formation. Albert Germain, Tax Counsel, Aluminum Corporation of America.
Management, One Year After the Bicentennial. Willard F. Rockwell, Jr., Chairman, Rockwell International Corp.
The Inability to Cope. Edward J. Green, Pres., Planning Dynamics, Inc.
Charting Through Choppy Waters. William Bierer, Pres., Equi-Bank N.A.
Awards Luncheon. Presiding: John W. Hannon, President, Maynard Research Council, Inc.
William R. Fitz is administrative assistant to the board chairman of Rockwell International Corp. 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.