Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1361593
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION APRIL 14, 2021 Page 24 The Value of a Trade Association Membership…continued from page 23 According to the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the association representing associations, there are nearly 67,000 trade and professional associations in the U.S. The number of associations is growing, not declining. There is an association representing virtually every industry, trade, and profession imaginable. Just for the fun of it, I decided to Google the word "association" and there were 1.9 billion results. With so many associations out there, the PSAI staff, board, and volunteers understand it is increasingly important that our messaging and benefits to members be clear and easily accessible. We work hard to do this. We know that increased engagement among industry participants who are invested in the same goals will yield success. To those of us who work in the office for your association, the decision to join an association feels like a no- brainer. Why wouldn't someone choose to expand their business prospects, advance their professional education, and—maybe most foundational of all—choose to associate with fun and knowledgeable people like those in our portable sanitation community? Unfortunately though, joining a trade or professional association isn't always an automatic decision. Getting the most out of an association requires time and effort that a potential member could otherwise spend on their work, their hobbies, or with their family. Then there's the monetary cost of dues plus extras such as event registrations, fee- based resources, or travel for association activities. Our mindset tends to assume that spending money means an immediate return. For associations, the value of your dues investment is commonly spread over a longer period of time and also is used to provide a necessary brick to support the whole association. The ASAE routinely conducts surveys to find out why people join or decline to join associations. For the sake of brevity, let's just say there are plenty of reasons on both sides. But the interesting thing is, the reasons on both sides of the debate change year-to-year. Sometimes, companies decide "yes" or "no" to membership based on the same set of facts. For example, in April 2020 when our world was turned upside down, one company may have felt times were too uncertain to invest in an association while another felt it was possibly the best time in history to be part of a community of like-minded individuals where they'd get the information and support needed to navigate the uncertainty. Since your membership is the lifeblood of this association, I hope you appreciate the power and necessity of being part of this amazing group of people. We couldn't do it without you, and we exist to make sure you will always do better with us as well. Be on the lookout over the next few newsletter issues as I break down highlights and benefits of being a PSAI member that you may have forgotten or need a refresher on. I am positive you will discover something that, at the time you first joined, did not seem relatable to your business, but now is very important. We know things change constantly in your business and the PSAI is here to keep you informed about upcoming changes and keep you ahead of the game. v