I was recently contacted by an editor of a magazine for association professionals who was preparing a story on association CEOs who blog. Those following this blog might be interested in my response, and I'd be interested in hearing how well these reasons match up with your motivation in following the blog. Just click on "comments" and let everyone hear from you!

Why do I blog? Let me count the ways.

APhA is a membership organization. As such, we are more relevant if we are well connected to our members. In this world of overcommunication, we no longer have the luxury of assuming that just because we prefer a particular “channel” of communication, that it is also the preferred channel for all of our members. To reach as many members as possible, and to do so on topics “in the moment,” I blog. The blog brings a level of immediacy that may get lost in print journal editorials, as those tend to be much more stiff and academic. The blog can show a side of the organization and its exec that may not be apparent in these other media or channels.

I blog because I want my members, each of them, to know that I am approachable and interested in the same things they are. If they perceive that I am not, we’ve given them a channel to express their concerns freely and without the need for letterhead.

We are also highly interested in leadership. That means that we sometimes grapple with tough questions. Having the blog allows me to throw ideas or dilemmas out to see if we strike a chord with anyone. I know, for example, that many of our members have workplace issues that might not appear to be on our radar screen. Comments on the blog and Facebook gave me some interesting feedback that we’ve been able to use to our members’ advantage.