Member services

Citation

(1999), "Member services", Work Study, Vol. 48 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.1999.07948caf.005

Member services

Member services

Ten US associations excel at membership development, according to the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Receiving top honours in the 1998 Keystone Awards for Excellence in Membership, the winners use innovative tools and tactics to enhance their membership development and retention. Recognising effective programmes by associations, the awards programme is sponsored by ASAE's Membership Section, with winners chosen by a panel of peer judges. Keystone Awards recognise membership professionals as the "central supporting element of the whole" association.

The 1998 competition drew 22 entries in six categories ranging from best membership recruitment campaigns to best technology application. Six entries captured Keystone Award trophies, and four runners-up earned Certificates of Achievement.

All winners were honoured in ceremonies during ASAE's 1998 Management & Technology Conferences, in Washington, DC, in December. Now in its 15th year, the awards competition is designed to stimulate sharing among peers and recognise successful ideas.

Among those receiving Certificates of Achievement were the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers and the American Productivity & Quality Center.

The American Society of Association Executives, Washington, DC, is an individual membership organisation made up of more than 24,600 association executives and suppliers. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies, and voluntary organisations across the United States and in 46 countries around the globe. It also represents suppliers of products and services to the association community.

The Membership Section now has more than 2,400 members whose chief speciality is managing the membership function. Section activities include educational programmes, monthly audioconferenced roundtable luncheons, a monthly newsletter, and an e-mail discussion group. For further information, see www.asaenet.org.

Associations are big business ­ in the US they employ 260,000 people full-time and another 35,000 part-time. Although largely tax-exempt, they still pay more than $1.1 billion in local, state and federal taxes each year.

The top five national associations by membership size are:

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  American Automobile Association: 35,291,651;

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  American Association of Retired Persons: 32,000,000;

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  YMCA of the USA: 14,808,247;

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  National Geographic Society: 9,500,000;

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  National Congress of Parents & Teachers: 6,500,000.

The largest national association conventions in 1997 based on attendance:

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  National Marine Manufacturers Association: 177,468;

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  Association for Manufacturing Technology: 121,601;

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  Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association: 103,756;

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  National Sporting Goods Association: 94,166;

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  Construction Industry Manufacturers Association: 85,000;

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  National Restaurant Association: 73,580;

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  American Hardware Manufacturers Association: 65,000.