Following the removal of its paid CEO for acting on behalf of the association without the approval of its board of directors, the American Teleservices Association is shifting its focus back to being a volunteer-driven organization.
During a business meeting yesterday, new ATA president Steve Brubaker noted that the all-volunteer board--each member who has made a $5,000 annual commitment to the association--will reassess the strategic direction of the ATA, including instituting an annual independent audit of the group's finances.
The 2069 member association will continue its domestic focus, and work towards increasing its membership, which has dropped slightly over the past year. Brubaker said the group is working towards creating more opportunities for members to network on a local level, but was unsure if the ATA would go back to creating local chapters.
He also addressed member concerns about the industry regulation group TeleWatch being rolled into the ATA itself. The move was caused partially because maintaining two separate organizations was not economically feasible, he said.
The opportunity to apply for the TeleWatch seal of approval--which certifies companies comply with industry accepted best practices and federal regulations--will become an ATA member benefit, Brubaker said. However, while it will be part of the ATA, the group that reviews certification applications will be separate from the association.
