With the 2012 membership year quickly approaching, we have some very exciting changes happening and we wanted you all to be the first to know! Most of the following news and changes are member ideas discussed during recent national committee meetings as well as from chapter visits/retreats. It’s time to begin implementing them. We hope that this information will help you and your chapters recruit and retain new members for years to come:
- No Administrative Fee - Effective August 1, 2011, the $100 administrative fee will be eliminated for all new joining members.
- Complimentary Education Only Conference registration for all new members in August 2011- As an incentive to each individual who joins CMAA during the month of August, he/she will receive a complimentary Education Only badge to the 85th World Conference in New Orleans (non-transferable).
- Step Membership - Based upon the Chapter/Member Services Committee's recommendation and CMAA Board approval, effective September 1, 2011, the Association will implement a step membership where the new/rejoining member dues rate will be $500, the second year dues rate will be $650 and the third year will be the prevailing dues rate. Individuals who join under this new provision receive a 47 percent savings over the former new member dues rate and fees (33 percent for those eligible for the third member from the same club dues rate).
- Monthly national dues billing - Starting with the 2012 dues year, CMAA will be offering an eight month payment plan for CMAA national dues renewals.
As leaders of your chapters, please pass this information along to your members and prospective members. This is also a good time to take a look at your chapter's current admission policies. We are aware that some chapters are still hanging on to antiquated and cumbersome practices when it comes to accepting new members into the Association. With technology and the ability to scan and distribute applications to various chapter representatives for approval, there is no reason that an application should be held at the chapter level for more than a week. We want our new members to feel welcomed and energized when they become a part of our fabulous organization.
If we can answer questions about the above or provide further details, please call a chapter/member services staff member any time or reach out via e-mail at membership.dept@member.cmaa.org.
For our Association to continue to be a recognized leader in our industry, we need outstanding leaders like you to ensure the success of the above initiatives and changes. It is incumbent on all of us to promote CMAA and add new members to our Association. Thank you!
