Having just returned from a Leadership Conference in San Francisco with ISES (International Special Events Society) , I am proud to be associated with an organization that fosters continued and higher learning in all disciplines of the event industry, and provides quality leadership to ensure the longevity of this great organization. This is an outstanding testament to the value of this membership, and if that wasn’t enough I always walk away with an armful of friendships that prove their worth beyond membership fees!
Below is an article I wrote that received many favorable replies. I hope by reading this it will help you determine the value of your memberships and how you can rethink your involvement.
The Association Arithmetic – Does it all Add up? By Kathie Madden
Published by: The Planner Dec 2008
My advice when shopping around for an association a good fit for credibility and educational purposes is an organization within or related to your particular discipline and additionally; a broader based group that can expose you to further contacts and potentially; increased revenues. The obvious sign-up costs of joining any association surface in the decision making process and for a large majority; the expectations of becoming a member are to convert networking into money. This can be a misconception; so let’s face the truth about this subject.
Just recently I witnessed the joyful celebration of the ISES Dallas Chapter as they accepted the award for ‘Chapter of the Year’. I questioned how they were able to accomplish this when as individuals or businesses; there are such extraordinary demands in these extraordinary times. This prestigious award was earned through dedicated teamwork, creative and objective thinking and as I watched them congratulate each other I recognized the true benefits of belonging to the right association, the most powerful of all resources: energy in its membership. Measuring the power of this resource is not just the award, but how it translates into increased engagement, broader and fresher ideas, less burnout, and ultimately; a stronger association that fosters a spirit of alliance that members and prospective members desire to be attached to.
Any well respected association has a mission statement, a code of ethics, by-laws, policies and procedures and clear cut objectives, but it is a fallacy to expect that by merely becoming a member it fast tracks you to success. In the long run; this way of thinking will actually cost you money because if you choose to sit back, you miss out on the hidden benefits of fully engaging in your association. What are those benefits?
1. Involvement aids you to grow to the next level of professionalism, respect, and credibility.
2. Strengthens your knowledge and confidence beyond your own business.
3. Valuably broadens your accessibility and exposure ultimately building stronger collaborative relationships.
4. Allows you to be action- oriented to motivate and articulate input into the strategic objectives.
5. Effectively demonstrates your commitment to your industry and business.
6. Keeps you current to new members, industry issues, and future competitors.
The true definition of an association is a society of partnership. It is no different than marriage: you get out of it, what you put in. As the Dallas Chapter demonstrated, the strength of any association is the energy and participation of its membership. The majority of associations encourage your involvement, but what discourages members is the misconception that they can’t afford the time. In that case I advise to do what you can with boundaries, because in this increasingly collaborative business world, you really can not afford not to be part of the engagement equation.
Membership + Participation = Knowledge Knowledge = Competence = Success