A ChatGPT inquiry indicates that there are between 60,000 and 70,000 active 501(c)(6) organizations in the United States, including trade associations such as the Business Technology Association (BTA). The inquiry reveals that only between 500 to 1,000 of these organizations have reached their 100th year. Yes, BTA is part of an exclusive group. We can attribute that to George and our other founding members.
George? He was our first president; not George Washington but, rather, George S. Walker. He was the first president of what was then the National Association of Typewriter Dealers, now BTA. We don’t know any of the details as to why he was named the first president. What we do know is that his presidency was the result of a meeting that took place on Jan. 22-23, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri. A group of typewriter dealers convened there, motivated by the realization that there is strength in numbers. They had a vision that the independent dealer channel could be strengthened by way of dealers helping dealers.
Recently, I have pulled many reminders of the association’s rich history from BTA’s archives as we celebrate its centennial anniversary. At BTA’s headquarters in Kansas City, we have past issues of nearly every monthly magazine published by the association, including our inaugural issue back in November 1938. In addition, there are many boxes of old photos that have accumulated through the years. I am pleasantly surprised at the extent of our archives, grateful that so many former employees of our association went to the trouble to save what was new to them, but historic to us.
Looking at the many photos of smiling faces and the magazine article headlines, it confirms how extraordinarily important the association has been to so many people through these 10 decades. Technology has changed. The workplace has changed. The world has changed. What has not changed is the drive, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit of the association’s dealer members, wholeheartedly determined to help one another through the association’s many programs, events, and opportunities to share best practices. When I look at the photos from the past and present, I see multiple generations of the same family.
This photograph was taken in 1964 upon the occasion of the opening of the new National Office Machine Dealers Association (NOMDA) office in Des Plaines, Illinois, near Chicago.
As I write this, a line from a 1976 movie comes to mind that has stayed with me for whatever reason. The movie was “The Gumball Rally,” about a cross-country road race. In it, one of the drivers snaps the rearview mirror from his Ferrari and throws it out the window, declaring: “What’s behind me is not important!” While I understand the sentiment, it does not apply to us as we look back over BTA’s 100 years. What we see in our past is important. In confirms that we are all part of an industry with a legacy of great people who collectively made a difference in the world. They did so with perseverance, fortitude and plenty of hard work. They set an expectation of excellence that persists to this day.
How BTA has persevered over 10 decades
I believe perseverance is the key word. Think about it. Technology in 1926 was the manual typewriter. Remember those? The evolution of our association’s name tells the story. As noted, it was first the National Association of Typewriter Dealers. By the early 1930s, the name was revised and expanded to be the National Typewriter and Office Machine Dealers Association. In 1943, the name was shortened to the National Office Machine Dealers Association (NOMDA), our name for 50 years. Then, in 1994, we became the Business Technology Association. Technology has evolved dramatically through these 100 years, yet independent office technology dealers have solidly remained the premier channel of distribution for the products and services that help optimize business document and information workflows—then with the typewriter; now and into the future with tools such as AI. What a contrast. The channel has persevered.
BTA as an organization has persevered as well. I sometimes wonder how it survived the Great Depression, starting three years after our founding. Likewise, World War II could have derailed the association. But it survived. Why? I believe it is because of the countless dealer members who have stepped forward to give back. They experienced the unique value that BTA brought to them and their dealerships and wanted to pay it forward. From day one, they have been the true heart of the association.
I have seen this firsthand for nearly 40 years. When I joined the BTA staff back in November 1986, the association was approaching the end—and celebrating— its 60th anniversary year. At the time, the late Robert Todd, Sr. was NOMDA president. Since then, I have had the privilege of knowing and working with 38 additional national presidents, their fellow officers and board members, plus the officers and board members for the association’s districts—once EROMDA, SEROMDA, Mid-OMDA and WOMDA, now BTA East, BTA Southeast, BTA Mid-America, and BTA West.
BTA’s wonderful volunteer leaders have continually picked up the mantle of the founding members, doing their part to ensure that, like the dealer channel itself, the association perseveres. President Walker and the other founding members had it right. In today’s parlance, “they called it.” Create a nonprofit association governed by each successive generation of dealer members and great things will happen. I am certain that our founding leaders would be proud of our current leaders. They would say, “Thank you for maintaining and strengthening our vision.”
While it is important to look at the past, it is, of course, more important to look to the future. After all, that is our destiny. Frankly, it will be fun to observe how the industry continues to evolve with emerging technologies for the workplace. It has been said that where there is change, there is opportunity. So true. Office technology dealers will continue to successfully embrace whatever new opportunities lie in store for them—with the help of their association through education, guidance and networking opportunities. None of us will see the association celebrate its 200th anniversary, but we can rest assured that the dealer channel and its association will reach that milestone. I believe history assures us of that.
We can, however, celebrate BTA’s 100th anniversary together. On Sept. 2, the association will host BTA at 100: A Celebration. It will take place at the beautifully restored Union Station Kansas City. That evening we will celebrate our past, thank our dealer volunteer leaders past and present, and recognize a few of our longtime members. Plus, there will be great entertainment. When planning the event, the dealer volunteer leaders said, “This is a big deal, we should go big with the entertainment.” That led to securing the legendary Jay Leno to join us that evening. We will enjoy his stand-up comedy, plus some Q&A with him. Whether you are a regular BTA event attendee or this would be your first BTA event, the evening will prove to be an enjoyable experience that you will never forget. Please join us. You can register at www.bta.org/IGNITEKC.
Your registration for BTA at 100: A Celebration will include registration to BTA IGNITE Kansas City, a Sept. 1-3 educational and networking event that begins with a welcome reception at the National World War I Museum and Memorial, followed by a day-and-a-half of great educational sessions and the opportunity to learn about the latest products and services of 50-plus exhibitors. This event will take place at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, connected by an elevated walkway to Union Station Kansas City. I look forward to seeing you there.
Hoskins, a 40-year BTA veteran, was promoted to executive director of the Business Technology Association in 2006.
