FeaturesNow

Building Your Membership: Action to Results

Many of your readers want to boost membership in their associations or civic groups -- but don't know where to begin.  This brief feature gets readers thinking about action steps they can take to build membership:  identifying member benefits, targeting markets, generating involvement, and more.  897 words.  [Feature 0806]

The Organized Association Member

Some of your readers are probably new -- or longtime -- association officers.  Or they may be heading up association committees or task forces.  Many of your readers, on the other hand, are simply rank-and-file association members, interested in the work of their professional organizations and wishing to further the interests of their industry.  Whatever their role, to make their mark they must first get organized.  This article explains how.  589 words.  [Feature 0706]

Associations: What Brings the Members In

Your readers and their peers join associations for many different reasons.  The more your readers understand these very powerful motives, the more effective they'll be as association champions.  Here's a summary of the most common reasons people join trade and professional associations.  A great feature for association periodicals, and perfect for issues about membership.  485 words.  [Feature 0608]

Your Convention -- 100 Years Ago

As members consider their upcoming convention, here's an intriguing question for them to consider:  Suppose this convention was happening 100 years ago?  To be sure, very few trade and professional meetings of any sort were held a century ago, much less full-fledged gatherings with the trappings of modern-day conventions.  But if members could travel back in time, they'd quickly discover that a convention in those days was a very special event indeed.  This article describes the "convention experience" of a century ago -- from train transportation to antique hotels.  Readers will appreciate the convention of today after reading this entertaining feature.  1162 words.  [Feature 0605]

New Association Members: Recruit Them Now

Most trade and professional associations run annual membership campaigns.  Many provide promotional kits to prospective members.  But the most loyal, committed and involved members are those recruited by other members -- your readers.  This feature offers simple, but powerful, tips readers can use to recruit new association members right now.  787 words.  [Feature 0603]

Your Convention on the Cheap

Convention time will be coming up before you know it.  And some of your readers will wonder whether they should make the financial investment to attend. Scarce dollars should never be a barrier to convention participation.  With some advance planning, readers can attend your industry's trade or professional association convention with a smaller financial investment than they might think possible.  This article explains how.  669 words.  [Feature 0507]

Kaleidoscope: A Whirlwind of Two Dozen Must-Do Convention Activities

If you're planning a pre-convention issue in the near future, don't miss this feature.  It's a collection of simple things participants can do to turn their convention experience into powerful learning and networking events.  From 3:00 a.m. "wake-up" questions to sampling the local culinary traditions, the article offers exciting and meaningful tips your readers can use.  1118 words.  [Feature 0419]

15 Warning Signs of a Great Association

What are the characteristics of associations full of energy and enthusiasm?  A few answers:  Bouts of great leadership.  Chronic good news.  Exaggerated sense of service.  This fresh, upbeat article "diagnoses" fifteen of these "warning signs."  Great for any association periodical!  629 words.  [Feature 0412]

Your Association Board: Test Your Vocabulary

When your readers hear about the work of your association board's standing committees or hear references to "due diligence," do they understand the meaning of those terms?  More important, do they know the language of the association board and organization?  By completing this simple vocabulary quiz, they'll test their knowledge and learn important terms at the same time.  504 words.  [Feature 0410]

Twenty Ways to Make this Year's Convention Your Best Ever

This year's convention is more than the keynote session, educational seminars, sightseeing, and the trade show floor.  Help readers make this year's convention really count by encouraging them to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and business opportunities it offers.  Editor's Note:  By shortening this feature to "Fifteen Ways ...," "Thirteen Ways ...," or any other number, you can fit the text to whatever space is available  983 words.  [Feature 0401]