Why become an APNA Member? I’m a founding member of the International Nanny Association. I was in Claremont, California when Deborah Davis passed around a 
hat (literally) and said, “For everyone who puts in a check of $65 to cover the expenses of this conference, you will become a founding member of INA”. Back then we all carried a check book. That’s how it all began.
I was around when a small group of disgruntled business owners disassociated from INA to form Strictly Business, which morphed into APNA. INA was going through growing pains. The educators, who had always steered INA, were slowly becoming less relevant, the nannies, which were very scarce in INA’s first 5 years, were slowly becoming more relevant. The nanny agencies were caught somewhere in the middle. Everyone chose a place to belong. That’s how it all began.
Over the last 30 years, I remained very involved in INA. Not only did I attend conferences, I was active in the leadership as a board member, Secretary, President, and Co-President. The board commitment required many hours of running the association. Through that board experience I made lifelong friends and I am left with so many heartfelt memories. We traveled together, we worked, we cried, we shared our professional and personal lives. We laughed…a lot. I was an INA member because I wanted to be a leader for the industry.
After many years, I started to go to APNA conferences; Austin, TX was my first. The conferences were really quite fantastic. All about business, straight forward, inspiring and collegial. I finally decided to join the organization in 2011. Why did it take so long? I was stubborn. Putting my forms through the scrutiny of the APNA code of excellence felt like a time consuming project to me. There was a tangible barrier to cross. Finally, though, I bit the bullet and did it. And now that I am on the other side, a full member, I wonder what took so long to exert the effort to be member? I could have been proud to display to seal of APNA and part of this phenomenal group much sooner.
As a member and now a board member, I have been asked “But what’s the point of membership? I can go to conference without being a member. What is it that I get from APNA as a member?” What does APNA give to me? My answer? APNA doesn’t hand out much. And that is the point; it isn’t that sort of organization.
APNA is an organization of the industry leaders. If you are a leader, you shouldn’t be looking for a long list of benefits. As a leader, you should be asking, “What can I offer?”
As a leader you give, not take. As a leader you inspire, not follow. As a leader you influence, you guide, you encourage. Be a member because you want to make this organization one that has the strongest leaders of the industry, all in one association. And, that, is my answer to “Why join?”
By being a member you contribute added value to the membership. It’s about what you offer. By being a member you are saying you align yourself with the best of the best in the industry. You make our organization that much stronger by adding one more number to the membership of leaders.
My point is that APNA membership is about exemplifying the pinnacle of the best. It speaks of an initiative to raise the bar. Leadership is less about your needs and more about the needs of others. As leaders, we set the standard, we have the vision, we are the strength, we inspire results, we innovate, and we define purpose. It’s a force of fortitude and a forward thinking energy. And, I then ask, who doesn’t want to join a group like that?
Wendy Sachs
CEO
The Philadelphia Nanny Network, Inc.