Forum - June/July 2011

Forum;of;Chicagoland’s;Key;25;work groups,;these;benefits;can;be;derived through;non-traditional;means;of;affili-ation;or;through;a;customer-focused approach.;An;association;could;elect;to make;its;educational;or;other;programs, products;and;services;broadly;avail-able;to;non-members,;treating;them purely;as;customers.;Or;it;may;create categories;of;affiliation;that;provide;a fee-based;way;to;align;with;the;associa-

4. Are you positioned to meet the needs of potential new members? How important is a role in association governance to a broader constituency? How important is being called a ‘member’ to them?

“You;have;to;be;in;a;position;to provide;products;and;services;that;are relevant”;when;considering;new;mem-bership;constituencies;or;customers, Horting;says.;She;adds;it;also;is;impor-tant;that;what;you;offer;does;not;dilute your;services;to;your;traditional;member base.;If;you;don’t;have;the;capacity;to expand;offerings,;then;what;you;offer now;must;be;of;value;to;your;new;mem-bers.

For;AHIMA,;anything;less;than;full membership;status;was;not;as;appeal-ing;to;the;non-credentialed;individuals who;want;to;affiliate;with;the;associa-tion,;as;less;than;full;membership;was perceived;as;“second;class”;status. Opening;full,;voting;membership;to these;professionals;has;strengthened;its ability;to;speak;for;the;health;informa-tion;management;community;and;cre-ated;a;stronger;organization.

Bringing;together;interested;and engaged;individuals;in;support;of;their organizational;mission,;to;advance shared;goals,;will;always;be;central;to the;function;of;professional;associa-tions.;The;question;of;how;you;accom-plish;that,;and;the;boundaries;you;set for;that;purpose,;can;and;should;be;a continuing;discussion;driven;by;your association’s;necessary;response;to challenges;and;opportunities.

tion;without;granting;full;membership rights;and;responsibilities.;The;Ameri-can;Urological;Association;provides;for a;category;of;Allied;membership,;open to;nurses,;nurse;practitioners,;physician assistants,;technicians,;and;medical assistants,;which;provides;access;to educational;resources;and;member-only;rates,;but;allows;service;on;only selected;committees;and;does;not;con-fer;voting;rights.

Does your CPA firm specialize in helping associations and foundations stay financially fit? If not, contact Len Weitz at Mann. Weitz & Associates. We’ve been providing audit, outsourcing, tax, business advisory services/part-time chief financial officer (CFO) and consulting services to associations and foundations for more than 25 years.