Pub. 1 2018-2019 Issue 1

B enjamin Franklinoncewrote,“An invest- ment in knowledge pays the best inter- est.” He was right, especially when it comes to practical knowledge. Gaining knowledge — useful knowledge — is a clear strategy for learning how to add value. That’s one of the main reasons why joining an association is a good idea. Done right, it is an investment in yourself and your future. You can find trade and professional associa- tions with a local, state, or national presence. Youmight even want to consider belonging to more than one; for example, you could consider a general association, such as the Chamber of Commerce, but you canalso look for something specific to your industry. The federal government lists national and state associations; you can find themonline. Enter “associations”or“consumer trade organiza- tions”at www.usa.gov ; one of the resources on this website is the Consumer Action Handbook – Trade Associations. Another option is talking with colleagues or other people in your industry, and asking them what they would recommend. Put some effort into evaluating any associa- tions you think youmight like to join. Check the event calendar and see what’s offered. Find somemembers, then contact themand ask them about their experiences. Yes, it costsmoney to join. Sometimes people think that’s a reason not to join. If you join an association and you don’t take advan- tage of themany benefits that are offered in exchange for that membership fee, maybe they are right. Membership by itself does not justify the expense. Fortunately, however, there is more to joining an association than a membership card. After you join an association, what are the main benefits you can expect? Read on. Educational Opportunities Asmentioned above, an association’s educa- tional opportunities are probably the most compelling reason to join. If you want to knowwhat the best practices in your indus- try are, or the developing trends, member- ship in an association can give you a place to find out. You can learn new techniques, participate in training programs and confer- ences, and get writtenmaterials for yourself and (if people work for you) your employ- ees. If attending national or international conferences is out of reach, you can still par- ticipate in webinars. Don’t forget the news- letters, either, which are a valuable resource that can give you timely information that has been written with your specific inter- ests and needs in mind. It is wise to stay current in your field, whether you are involved in formal training or not. An association can help you keep your com- petitive edge sharp. Pooled Resources Many associations want to make sure they understand their specific industries. As a result, they research and analyze subjects and create white papers and reports to ASSOCIATION REASONS TO JOIN UAPA Learnasmuchas youcanabout your proposedbusiness. Askquestions. Join industry associations. Study successful competitors carefully. - Paul Clitheroe 30