How happy are your association’s members?
I’ve been listening in to an e-exchange among some meeting planners today who are worried about the retiring boomers leaving associations who are not being replaced by the next generation. There does seem to be some hope in a so-far-unsubstantiated rumor that those just leaving college now will be more boomer-like in their association membership habits. Can anyone substantiate that rumor?
In the meantime, according to a press release from IMEX, a new study asked 192 professionals what factors are most important to getting them to join, or to leave, an association.
- Results show the majority (61%) join in order to gain access to best practice. 58% do so to keep up-to-date with industry news whilst 51% want to benefit from educational activities. Networking for business or social reasons (49%), learning about job vacancies (35%) and meeting professional requirements (33%) were also important ‘attraction’ factors.
It also said that preliminary results are being issued during the M&IT show at Olympia (UK). A fuller, more detailed report, following six months’ further research, will be presented at the IMEX Association Day in Frankfurt on April 18th next year.
The P.R. said that the full report, “What members want membership renewal & retention,” can be downloaded from associationgateway.org (you have to register) or imex-frankfurt.com, but the link didn’t go anywhere when I tried it. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
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Related Topics: Business stuff
October 13th, 2004 at 10:56 am
SueRegarding member retention, here’s my perspective as a professional speaker for the past 18 years. The actual format of meetings may have to change radically to interest younger members. As we know they want their experiences to be interactive, to have more choices in the moment about how they learn and play. For example, they 25-35 year-olds want more and more varied but structured ways to network (not simply a mixer) to meet and exchange ideas with peers and experts, shorter sessions, opportunity to vote their views in the moment. They love meet-the-expert 20-minute sessions at round tables for 8 people, with a few minutes to move to the next table for three rounds of short meetings. They like panels of smart, to-the-point experts (investment bankers, reporters and others who track their industry) who offer their best three tips in 8 minutes, with the panel led by a strong convenor who keeps time, followed by written questions from the audience…..raised on MTV speed and Tivo choice, they thrive on shorter, more interactive sessions with longer, more free flowing time with the people who match their interests. The keynoters can still bookend the conferences, set the tone, suggest the trends, provide high level insights and on-the-ground advice, then stay for the hands-on session. Bottom line, meeting planners must multiply the ways they not only ask what members want but observe what their members spend their time and money on - within their association and in their lives. P.S. like many speakers I thoroughly enjoy your blog.
October 13th, 2004 at 10:57 am
SueRegarding member retention, here’s my perspective as a professional speaker for the past 18 years. The actual format of meetings may have to change radically to interest younger members. As we know they want their experiences to be interactive, to have more choices in the moment about how they learn and play. For example, they 25-35 year-olds want more and more varied but structured ways to network (not simply a mixer) to meet and exchange ideas with peers and experts, shorter sessions, opportunity to vote their views in the moment. They love meet-the-expert 20-minute sessions at round tables for 8 people, with a few minutes to move to the next table for three rounds of short meetings. They like panels of smart, to-the-point experts (investment bankers, reporters and others who track their industry) who offer their best three tips in 8 minutes, with the panel led by a strong convenor who keeps time, followed by written questions from the audience…..raised on MTV speed and Tivo choice, they thrive on shorter, more interactive sessions with longer, more free flowing time with the people who match their interests. The keynoters can still bookend the conferences, set the tone, suggest the trends, provide high level insights and on-the-ground advice, then stay for the hands-on session. Bottom line, meeting planners must multiply the ways they not only ask what members want but observe what their members spend their time and money on - within their association and in their lives. P.S. like many speakers I thoroughly enjoy your blog.
October 13th, 2004 at 10:58 am
SueRegarding member retention, here’s my perspective as a professional speaker for the past 18 years. The actual format of meetings may have to change radically to interest younger members. As we know they want their experiences to be interactive, to have more choices in the moment about how they learn and play. For example, they 25-35 year-olds want more and more varied but structured ways to network (not simply a mixer) to meet and exchange ideas with peers and experts, shorter sessions, opportunity to vote their views in the moment. They love meet-the-expert 20-minute sessions at round tables for 8 people, with a few minutes to move to the next table for three rounds of short meetings. They like panels of smart, to-the-point experts (investment bankers, reporters and others who track their industry) who offer their best three tips in 8 minutes, with the panel led by a strong convenor who keeps time, followed by written questions from the audience…..raised on MTV speed and Tivo choice, they thrive on shorter, more interactive sessions with longer, more free flowing time with the people who match their interests. The keynoters can still bookend the conferences, set the tone, suggest the trends, provide high level insights and on-the-ground advice, then stay for the hands-on session. Bottom line, meeting planners must multiply the ways they not only ask what members want but observe what their members spend their time and money on - within their association and in their lives. P.S. like many speakers I thoroughly enjoy your blog.
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