Page 16 - February 2022 Barbecue News Magazine

February is not only the shortest month of the year but is also the month of love. Beautiful cards will be exchanged by star-crossed lovers romantically relaying how in love they are. Perhaps you will quote the first line of the fa- mous poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” The stores won’t let us forget what this month is all about, buying heart shaped candy. Before Christmas, the shelves were being stocked with gifts to give to your beloved. It is fitting that we discuss the new catchphrase, tagline or mantra of the NBBQA, “WHY NBBQA.”
As you read this article ask yourself, “Why NBBQA?” Why am I a member of the NBBQA? Why do I love the NBBQA? Why do I enjoy telling my BBQ friends about the NBBQA? Why is the national conference always on my calendar? There are tons of other reasons, “Why NBBQA?” How many other items have you come up with as to “Why NBBQA?” Below are a few areas we can all agree on. If you have any other, please send them to us so we can feature them.
Friendships
This is an overarching quality to answer the question, “Why NBBQA?” We all have new and old friendships which have been made through the NBBQA. Every day in our lives we are in contact with our friends and many times it’s the friends we’ve made here. Sometimes it’s checking on what they had for dinner last night via social media. Other times it’s a phone call to just say, “Hi.” We may not see each other for weeks or months on end, but when we do, it’s as if no time has passed at all. We don’t even talk about BBQ, we talk about the new truck they bought, the kids graduating high school or a multitude of other things. But this is what friends do. In the NBBQA, these friendships are solidified in BBQ and will last a lifetime. WHY NBBQA - Friendships
Networking
Along with friendships, the networking opportunities is another area where
we can list under the “Why NBBQA” heading. We’ve all heard the old say- ing, “If you want to be a successful person, then you need to hang out with successful people.” This is where networking comes into play. As you hang out with people who have been a success, their secrets are revealed. Op- portunities to partner become apparent. Your skill set, as you let them know what you can do, lands you a contract or even a job. With the NBBQA, this is almost every day. You want to know about food trucks, catering, restaurants or even food sport, the NBBQA is the place to connect with someone who will help. We have experts in the NBBQA who have blazed trails and mentored some cooks who are household names, even outside the world of BBQ. WHY NBBQA – Networking.
Education
Motivational speaker and writer, Zig Ziglar once wrote, “If you are not will- ing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” The emphasis NBBQA has placed on education for our mem- bers is yet another answer to “Why NBBQA.” From panels to tell stories about the history of the NBBQA to the Webinar Wednesdays to having major corporations’ partner with us in providing online seminars, educa- tion is at the forefront. With COVID putting a stop to our number one edu- cation event for the past couple of years, the yearly conference, the board didn’t want this to stop the learning. Every board meeting “How to educate our members” “How can we help our members in the business of BBQ?” is always subjects discussed. The added value to our membership dollars provides a real value to the fees we pay each year. The second part to Zig Ziglar’s quote, “If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” The NBBQA is doing everything they can to make our membership unstop- pable. WHY NBBQA – Education
Growth
Falling on the heels of networking and education, is the growth many have enjoyed as a result of being involved with the NBBQA. Story after story has
WHY NBBQA?
BarbecueNews.com - 16
FEBRUARY 2022