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Recipe for Member Connectivity

Jan. 15, 2025

Synopsis

TAA President Renee Zahn focused on how members can make the most of their association involvement.

Being surrounded by more than 200 of my closest family members, friends, and colleagues during our Fall Board of Directors meeting and my installation is certainly a night that will be imprinted as a core memory. It is not lost on me that taking the role of the President of the Texas Apartment Association is not just about that one night. Taking on this role is about being a good steward of all members of the organization. It is about doing more listening than speaking. It is about asking questions, and it is about gaining consensus.

It is about harnessing the passion that our members have for the rental housing industry and finding the recipe that serves the organization.

One thing is certain: our members are passionate. When I think of recipes, I can’t help but immediately picture Martha Stewart. Whether you appreciate old school Martha with fancy scones and table settings, or new school Martha paired with Snoop Dogg (my personal favorite), her quote “There is no single recipe for success, but there is one single ingredient: Passion.” aligns with the Texas Apartment Association.

As we look to navigate 2025 we will work together to harness our passion and find the ingredients to serve our members.

From what I have gathered, our recipe will look something like this, though we may find that we have to adjust the recipe as we go.

#1. We will be great at the basics: With 2025 being a legislative year, we will harness our passion for advocacy.

  1. We will work with our locals to make in person visits to legislators and foster relationships
  2. We will support our own members who are bravely serving in a legislative capacity.
  3. We will be at the ready to tackle statewide issues including:
  • Property rights and eviction process reform
  • Property tax and appraisal reform
  • Revenue protection and fee transparency

#2. We will harness our story: Our Association Executives and our current members need to understand and appreciate the value of membership in a way that they can sell it to others. 

  1. TAA advocates for members at the state level on issues that could impact our businesses
  2. TAA provides access to the “gold standard” of rental housing agreements
  3. TAA helps educate and recruit the talent that this industry needs – today and in the future

#3. We are going to continue to flip the script on our industry.

  1. We will celebrate the all of the amazing things that our members are doing in the community.
  2. We are going to share the heart that our members have for housing 4.2 million Texans

#4. We are going to listen to feedback and embrace change: As we embark on some big changes with our 2025 TAA ONE Conference, for example, we are hopeful that the unknown will lead to delightful surprises.

    1. At the 2025 ONE Conference, our multiple keynote speakers are going to impact you with meaningful education, and they will represent the diverse makeup of our membership.
    2. And yes, we’ll be dancing again! So, start assembling your space pop costumes because we’re bringing back the legendary dance-offs. And thanks to our Gen Z members, we’ll wear sneakers on Thursday because who says professionalism can’t be comfortable and stylish?

#5. We will listen to our members and remain nimble to allow them to serve in meaningful ways and to help us guide the organization forward. We will embrace emerging talent and adapt for generational differences.  

      1. In 2024, we piloted adding two emerging leaders to the TAA Executive Committee as non-voting members. Both Ashleigh Monday and Jason Simpson brought such a fresh perspective, and we know that our 2025 Emerging Leader Representatives Makenna Caffey and Patton Locke are up for helping us explore our “why?” throughout the year ahead.
      2. Perhaps the greatest thing that Gen Z can remind the rest of us is that time is our most valuable currency. And as TAA Past President Mark Hurley inspired me several years ago to “be useful,” our incoming volunteers are looking for that too. They crave intentional opportunities to be useful, so we will continue to create volunteer opportunities that are shorter in time commitment and project-based.

I’m beyond honored to step into this role as the president of the Texas Apartment Association. I am thrilled to work alongside such passionate leaders in the rental housing industry. I know there’s hard work ahead, but I also know that together, we will make this a memorable and impactful year. Like a great recipe, we will blend tradition with innovation to create something unique.

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