10/25/2024

Member Engagement is Everyone’s Business

It’s imperative the whole organization engages members

Engaging people is more difficult than ever before. Staff and volunteers scramble to get the word out before each event. Articles and social media posts don’t get comments like they used to. Volunteerism, contribution, and energy are waning.

A few factors are conspiring to reduce engagement overall. The first is choice. Fifty years ago, there was probably just one association that each career or industry could call home. Now, there are many associations for every niche imaginable. And associations aren’t the only place professionals can learn and connect. For-profits are offering high-quality research, content and learning opportunities, as are universities.

But this is a drop in the bucket compared to the bigger societal problem: time. None of us has enough time anymore. To be “adulting” well, we think we need to do it all. Ask a friend how they are, and nine times out of 10 the response is, “Busy!” Even when we are not all that busy, the never-ending to-do list still weighs us down.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.