Imagine asking a trusted colleague for input on a thorny issue you're dealing with at work. Now imagine being able to ask hundreds of smart, accomplished professionals who do the kind of work you do for a variety of companies all over North America. And that you can reach them as easily as sending an e-mail. That's what CCM's ListServ is all about.

Nothing illustrates the power of the ListServ like a query CCM member Paul Gennaro of Johns Mansville posted. In the wake of the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia, Paul asked CCM members how their companies were responding. He was preparing to make recommendations to his chairman and wanted to be armed with data from other companies.

Within minutes, CCM members started to reply. Just two days after making his request, Paul shared a summary of his responses with the list, along with his company's activities and a report on tsunami-related corporate giving compiled by his agency.

"The information provided was invaluable as I made my recommendation to the chairman," said Paul. "While the variance of company profiles, industries and markets determined the detail and nature of organizational support of relief activities, it enabled me to determine what made sense for my organization.

"This alone was worth the annual (CCM) membership fee."

Of course, like all ListServs, there are rules about what is appropriate to post, and we all agree to treat the information we get confidentially. But as a tool to tap into senior communication professionals who are more than willing to share what they know, it can't be beat.

And it's only available to members