You Are Paying--Are You Getting the Value?

You, like me, probably belong to one or more membership organizations...fraternal...civic...or trade/professional. I'd like to focus on the trade/professional which in the USA are most likely a 501(c) (6) or what years ago were called business leagues. This organizations have changed quite a bit over the years...from member driven and run to professional staff driven and run. In the 1950s, these organizations received about 95% of their revenue from member dues. Today, the percentage is down in the 40s. What that means is that half or more of their money comes from something other than dues. This is called non-dues revenue and is derived from meeting registrations, products, services, etc.

What has happened is that the members no longer want to do the work so the boards of directors have continued to allot more and more money for "professional" staff. Some organizations have excellent staff; well trained and with great skill. And some just hire people off the street. This is a problem. If your association/society simply hires off the street, they get bodies at low wages and also at low skills...this is a money pit.

If you are paying your organization several hundred dollars a year in dues and have been thinking, "What's in it for me" you are not alone. If you want to have some fun, write a letter to each member of your organization's board and ask the individual member to clearly articulate the member value proposition...in real dollar numbers. Do not accept the old fall back, "membership is priceless" and push harder. Ask each board member to explain how you will receive an actual return on your investment (ROI) from your dues payment each year. Chances are they have no clue.

Become proactive demanding value. Start questioning where the money goes. If you ask, they MUST provide you with their last year's Form 990 (IRS non-profit return). Study it and ask more questions. Be an informed consumer...and realize that some will simply call you a pain in the ass. No worries, progress takes effort.