Pub. 5 Issue 2

26 Issue 2 2019 Yes, it costs money to join. Sometimes people think that’s a reason not to join. If you join an association and you don’t take advantage of the many benefits that are offered in exchange for that membership fee, maybe they are right. Membership by itself does not justify the expense. Fortunately, however, there is more to joining an association than a membership card. After you join an association, what are the main benefits you can expect? Read on. Educational Opportunities As mentioned above, an association’s educational opportunities are probably the most compelling reason to join. If you want to know what the best practices in your industry are, or the developing trends, member- ship in an association can give you a place to find out. You can learn new techniques, participate in training programs and conferences, and get writtenmaterials for yourself and (if people work for you) your employees. If attending national or international conferences is out of reach, you can still participate in webinars. Don’t forget the newsletters, either, which are a valuable resource that can give you timely information that has been written with your specific interests and needs in mind. It is wise to stay current in your field, whether you are involved in formal training or not. An association can help you keep your competitive edge sharp. Pooled Resources Many associations want to make sure they under- stand their specific industries. As a result, they research and analyze subjects and create white papers and re- ports to tell association members what they found out. By yourself, it’s unlikely you have the resources to commission the kind and quality of research that most associations can commission. As part of an associa- tion, however, you do have the combined resources to make research possible. That’s a large benefit. When the people in an association decide they need information on a particular subject and use their combined resources to get and share that information with everyone in the group, everyone benefits. Pooled resources can also mean access to enhanced benefits programs, certification and licensing programs, and discounts. Advocacy The U.S. is a complex society with many competing interests and needs. An association is an excellent way to work together as a group and to advocate for your industry. Can you imagine trying to hire a lobbyist to represent just your business? It would be expensive, By yourself, it’s unlikely you have the resources to commis - sion the kind and quality of re - search that most associations can commission. As part of an association, however, you do have the combined resources to make research possible. (v) . . | . . Thenewslinkgroup.com https://www.thenewslinkgroup.com/ publications/Goldfish/index.html WHY ADVERTISE IN PRINT? — Satya Nadella CEO, Microsoft The true scarce commodity is human attention.