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Membership considerations

that control various aspects such as accommodation, transport, activities etc.

All these groups do not have compulsory membership but rely on those who can see advantages in belonging to an association to promote their interests in dealing with government, local and regional councils and other bureaucrats. Some associations rely on volunteers from amongst their members to make board decisions, some employ paid staff and some are controlled by a mix of the two.

As soon as we enter into a downturn in business or mild recession a number of the business operators that have association membership available for their particular type of venture start cost cutting and baulk at the cost of their association memberships. I am sure that the board members and paid staff of these groups are conscious of keeping membership costs as low as possible whilst providing the services their members require in advertising, promotion and advocacy.

However, from my experience both from being a board member and president earlier on and now being paid for a certain number of hours per week as the CEO of our national Bed & Breakfast Association I feel that members themselves have to accept a certain amount of responsibility for the costs of running, certainly our and probably all associations. Groups like ours have a core of good members who obviously keep up to date with reading and absorbing the information we send out in newsletters and regular emails to keep them informed and are punctual in paying subscriptions and providing requested data. However, I am sure that all associations have members that don't appear to read emails, or if they do, don't appear to take note of what is said. These are the members who, at a later date, contact their board members or staff complaining that they weren't advised of a particular event or ruling that affected them.

The members who annually have to be sent several reminders of their subscription being due or who, knowing they are going on holiday for a time, don't think ahead and perhaps pay in advance knowing that subscriptions fall due at the same time each year. As well, there are the members who can't be bothered checking their information on association websites or adding images where required, even when assistance is offered for those who don't have the computer skills to do so. Finally, there is the group who place advertisements in hard copy publications or directories, whether produced commercially or by an association, who can't be located when their entries need proofing, creating a huge amount of wasted time, often by paid staff, in chasing their final copy causing delays to the publication of the particular booklet or guide.

The point I am really trying to get across is the frustrations those working for organisations, whether paid or voluntary, suffer in having to deal with or chase up members who don't seem to understand their obligations. In addition, costs are created by time wasting that will be passed on in future membership subscriptions, causing complaints, no doubt, from those who in many cases have helped increase them.

However, I do have to say that most association members do fulfil what is required of them regarding their membership obligations, are a pleasure to work with and appreciate what is done for them by the volunteers and board members of the group to which they belong.