Starting from Scratch

I recently received a call from someone interested in starting a new association related to the industry in which he works. Although there are a couple of associations related to his field, they do not offer great member benefits so he would like to fill the void and offer substantial benefits and offerings to its members.

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Member Retention

Every association goes through periods of fluctuation with their membership depending on the year and what else is going on in the world. During this current recessionary climate, I have seen associations from very different industries lose significant amounts of members.

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Trade Shows Now and Then

If you are like many other associations, you may have noticed attendance and exhibitor participation in your trade shows decreasing over the past few years. One reason for this current trend is simply that people seem to be busier now than in years past with their professional and personal lives.

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Outsourcing

As the president of an association or simply a member of one, you may be thinking that a change is needed for your association. Maybe you are not ready to completely reinvent the wheel by hiring a completely new staff of people or even switching from one association management company to another. Instead, a small change might just do the trick.

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New Membership Ideas

I attended the American Bar Association’s Bar Leadership Institute in Chicago on behalf of a client where Presidents and Executive Directors of bar associations throughout the country came together as a way to prepare for their upcoming membership year.

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Re-Evaluate Each Year

With each membership year comes new goals and challenges for your association and how you may be able to cut costs. You may have the event schedule set and locations confirmed for the entire year, however at the end of each year you should make changes to allow the association to become the best it can be.

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Paying Too Much?

Is your management contract with your current association management company expiring soon? Before signing another multi-year contract and locking in your future expenses for the long-term, it may be time to request a proposal from other association management companies.

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The Importance of an SOP

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the management staff for your association decided to leave? Do you have a plan B in place for someone to fill that person’s shoes? Could someone else immediately step in without disrupting the association?

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