A Canadian View of Procurement: Why it is Important to Answer the iProcurement Call

Last Wednesday I received an e-mail from an individual whose passion for all things procurement rivals my own enthusiasm for this profession.

Ryan Spinner, who based on his own tireless energy and desire to create a community of procurement professionals who could come together to share insights and express opinions from a global perspective through a Canadian-based forum, sent out an impassioned call to arms so to speak.

Specifically, the iProcurement.org site that he started not that long ago has seen the monthly fees as Ryan puts it “mount-up” to the point that it is making it somewhat difficult for him to maintain the site out of his personal pocket.

I will cut to the proverbial chase, or in this instance the amount that Ryan is asking all members to contribute on an annual basis (which is a nominal $15.00), to off-set some of the costs he has personally incurred as a result of his commitment to bringing purchasing professionals together in a non-partisan environment.

With that out of the way, my personal opinion is that iProcurement.org represents a venue through which there are no affiliations or political considerations to muddy the conversational waters.  It is a site, which being self-governed by its membership, provides a vehicle for a free and open exchange of ideas and opinions . . . a “We The People” kind of site.

I have personally participated in lively exchanges including one on the Purchasing Management Association of Canada’s (PMAC) “In Residence Week.”

It was one of the more interesting exchanges that I have had on any site and I would encourage you to check it out.

In the meantime, and as Ryan has stated, “iProcurement.org is the only community of procurement professionals available in this country,” so we do not want to “risk losing it.”  I of course share Ryan’s sentiments and hope that you will both visit the site as well as decide to make the nominal investment of $15 per year to help iProcurement.org to continue to provide the high caliber of knowledge through proactive engagement between its membership.

iProcurement.org, where collaborative power and collective interest meet for the benefit of all members.

To learn more about how you can contribute, contact Ryan Spinner at ryan@ryanspinner.com.