The Long Shadow of Member Fees for Applying or Being “Late”

Like the line in the movie “Jaws” says: “Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the water . . .”

The 21st century is a wondrous age unlike any before. We can travel the globe in a matter of hours. We can talk to and see each other in real time using handheld devices. Individuals are realizing and exercising their power to create their own lives. We have embraced the power of choice and we are redefining what success means.

However, this is a time fraught with peril as well. While individuals are growing and evolving and creating a new way of thinking about how we live, there are those in power in countries with dictatorships that are pushing back hard on this. They want things to go back to the old ways of doing things. They want to tell you what to do and use punitive measures to keep people in line. We don’t call it the Turbulent 20s for nothing. Cultural changes are causing conflict and old power paradigms are collapsing (finally, I get to use that political science degree . . . )

What does this have to do with membership fees? Quite a lot.

How we think, act, and conduct our business reflects our mindset, whether it is an organization or an individual. Are we living in the world we are in? Or are we trying to impose outdated policies and thinking in order to maintain the illusion of control, or even worse, the illusion of being comfortable?

All human behavior is a microcosm of broader issues going on in the world. It’s why Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics are local.” Some might think he is talking about representing constituents, and that is a fair point and part of the observation. But what happens nationally or globally affects people where they live. Thus, politics are local. And so are associations because associations are relationships.

Which brings me to my point about membership fees related to applying or paying late. These are holdovers from another era and should be abolished.

Membership application fees were charged in the past because someone had to manually process the information – envelopes were opened, applications were reviewed, data was entered (or filed), member kits were mailed, and a payment was processed (usually a check). This took time and staff, so a fee was added.

But now, most of that isn’t necessary. Members join or renew online and do 98% of the work themselves. New member kits? These are digital now and are emailed or found online. If you still have a membership application fee, get rid of it!

“Late” fees? Really? Someone makes the decision to renew – but not on your schedule – so you punish them? We are in an era of multiple options for engagement and multiple sources of information. Yes, punishing someone for missing a deadline is a great way to build good feelings and loyalty. NOT.

Which brings me to the opening line of this blog. Just when I thought we were evolving away from membership fees, and I had not thought about them for a long time, someone posts about it in ASAE’s Collaborate community, which means it is likely still happening out there in the broader association world. A stark reminder that we still have a way to go when it comes to lifting the long shadow of past procedures that are still around because “that’s the way we’ve always done it” . . .