Investing in a Member Management System

As a group of Executive Administrators, we see a variety of ways to handle different obstacles in an association. Most of our clients use an online member management system including WildApricot, Your Membership, StarChapter, and more. If you are hesitant about investing in a member management system, here are a few reasons you should make the switch.

1.     Storing data. Nobody wants to maintain paper documents filled with important information scattered around their office or locked away in filing cabinets. Luckily, member management systems can store information about members, events, expiration dates, committees, and more. Having it in the system makes it convenient to search and quickly find information.

2.     Easier payments. With an online platform, you can have members easily pay for membership renewals, events, and conferences. This eliminates the act of sending a check, waiting on it to be received, and the drawn out process involved.

3.     Personalized adaptions. Membership management systems are completely designed to work with associations. This makes building your website and any special features easier. Creating new and varying membership models is an option you can find on a membership management system that you could not find on a standard website.

If your association can relate to one of these points, it is time to make the move to a member management system. The difference it can make is astounding!

If you are interested in investing in a member management system, read our blog on Wild Apricot!

Client Spotlight: Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association

The Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association is a client we took on a few months ago. This group consists of funeral homes and their funeral directors, employees, and interns. Members get the benefits of continuing education opportunities throughout the year, satisfying biennial licensing requirements, opportunities to contribute to the Madison conduit, ability to connect with other members, and a discounted rate to the WFDA Convention. 

WFDA is a part of the National Funeral Directors Association whose mission is to be, “The worldwide source of expertise and professional resources for all facets of funeral service. Through education, information and advocacy, NFDA is dedicated to supporting members in their mission to provide families with meaningful end-of-life services at the highest levels of excellence and integrity.” This is something WFDA follows closely as well. 

WFDA’s Executive Administrators from Impact are Caroline and Heather. These two support WFDA by handling the financials, website updates and changes, event planning, and member communication. These duties also include social media, newsletters, and learning more about the industry. Their hands have been full helping to manage this large client. They have both loved the experience so far and look forward to seeing where they can take WFDA.  

5 Quick Tips to Get Members Involved in a Committee

Associations are filled with members who have busy lives. Whether it be a strict work schedule, children to care for, or other personal obligations, members do not always have time to take on anymore responsibility. This can be an issue when trying to fill committee seats in your organization. If you are looking for volunteers, it is important to focus on how the position can benefit both the organization and the individual. Here are a few ways get members more involved in committees.

1.     Announce any openings. Make sure your members are aware of openings by spreading the word through email, meetings, and social media. Ensure that as many people as possible hear about the opening!

2.     Give it a trial run. After making the announcement about the opening, invite those interested to a meeting. Let the candidates see what they might be getting themselves into. This could relieve any worries about the position. It could also deter anyone that is not a good fit for the committee.

3.     Increase membership. If you are consistently having trouble finding members who want to get involved, it might be time to work on recruiting new members. Look for people who are eager to be a part of the organization and who have less time commitments. These people could be a great fit for committees.

4.     Approach good fits. Have the committee get together and discuss the type of person and skills needed. After this, compile a list of current members that fit that description. Once the list is complete, approach those members and ask if they would like to get more involved. This has potential to make the member feel special and more likely to join.

5.     Be upfront about what the member will gain. Knowing the time commitment of being on a committee, it is important to create a list of reasons for the member to join. This could be presented in a meeting, pamphlet, or even online. This might just be the final push a member needs.

After your list of candidates is narrowed down. Be clear about the expectations and responsibilities involved. Make sure the members are dedicated and you will have a full committee in no time.

Client Spotlight: Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation

This week’s Client Spotlight focuses on a client we have worked with now for 2 years, Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation (SIBF). SIBF is a foundation dedicated to exploring creative solutions to technical challenges. The group fosters education and multidisciplinary cooperation among industrial, academic, clinical and regulatory communities.

Members of SIBF receive discounted member rates at BioInterface, name recognition in Foundation publications, SurFacts newsletters, and more. This organization is very connected with their community and members. They also host an Annual BioInterface Workshop and Symposium where members are enriched by science and high quality interaction among academic, regulatory and clinical attendees.

Ingrid is SIBF’s Executive Administrator. She supports SIBF’s email management, financials, website updates, and conference planning. She has built a strong relationship with the board and is always on top of everything. We have loved seeing this partnership evolve over the years and look forward to continuing to help grow the foundation.