Bill Klingensmith, Membership

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As probably the newest member to the upstate NY AIGA chapter, and a past member of several chapters over the years including in NYC, SF, SD and most recently NOLA, I have heard similar concerns regardless of city/chapter…HOW DO YOU GET MEMBERS MORE INVOLVED IN THE CHAPTER? Because an active chapter is a more successful one, and being involved and active in your organization can help you as an individual become more successful by yielding meaningful connections, providing inspiration, furthering your education in the design field, and reiterating how great it is to have chosen an engaging, creative line of work.

I think it is fantastic that this letter from the President has opened the lines of communication and provided a place where members can easily express their concerns and people are actually participating and responding! AIGA’s mission is, afterall, about the exchange of ideas and information.

As you can imagine AIGA New Orleans, where I just relocated from, faced similar challenges being the only chapter in the entire state, covering all of Louisiana and parts of the Gulf South as well. Plus we also had a bit of a storm that set us back when it scattered many of our members across the country for months and months. But together we were able to reach out and unite our membership and rally our volunteers in order to continue to provide valuable programming that was mostly well attended even facing the most difficult of circumstances. We were able to turn around what was once one of the poorest smallest chapters in the nation, with weak participation and low membership numbers, to being a thriving chapter with a solid bank account, active members, engaging programming across the state, strong leadership and one of the biggest student chapters in the country. BUT it was a collaboration… a group effort requiring active participation of our members, not a select few, being willing to be creative in their thinking, and excited about volunteering to make the chapter be one that had exactly what they wanted out of a professional association and one to which they were proud to belong.

The way I see it is this…

PROBLEM:

Lack of membership participation effecting chapter programming and overall morale

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:

1. Have members get INDIVIDUALLY involved to help bring one effective, engaging programming event–that is important to them as an individual and in line with AIGA’s overall mission–to a location close to them, and consider how it could be shared with the rest of the membership remotely
2. Have members plan to attend one large annual event held in one of NYs major cities to which they could plan in advance for time off, carpooling, lodging arrangements, budgeting, etc

HOW:

SPEAK UP! Members provide proposal to local board to bring an event to their area. What if you never have done this? It’s easy, just:

1. Think up an idea of what you want to see happen here in the upstate NY AIGA chapter
2.  Pull together an email to submit to the board for review and start giving thought to the details such as:
   what you would call the event; what function it serves; which city would it be held in; which venue would be suitable for it; what date would be appropriate; how could it be shared with people not in attendance; what type of people would be likely to attend…members only (professionals, associates, students) or members plus the community; and most importantly, your name and contact information as a volunteer to help make this event reality
3. Email the proposal to a board member and be prepared to help bring your idea to life

AIGA is made up by the members for the members..every voice counts! It’s the way to make sure what YOU want is happening on a local level. Are you not satisfied with what’s going on locally? Then be a part of the solution to fix it. Take action. Get involved. Participate.

I feel confident that if Upstate NY members volunteer their time to help implement some of the many great suggestions listed in past postings and brainstorm additional ones, then this region can reap the benefits of an active membership enjoying valuable programming that addresses the concerns of the members.

I am happy to help in any way I can, be it sharing specifics about how the NOLA chapter went about solving similar challenges, or helping provide support to innovative approaches specific to this chapter.

It is with serious consideration that I write this letter to you all asking for your attention, feedback and direction.

Since its founding in mid-eighties, AIGA Upstate New York (then AIGA Rochester) has endeavored to bring compelling, unique design-related member focused programming to our vast chapter. Over the past 10 years, We have brought design films like Ben Day and Helvetica, lectures from world-class designers such as Dana Arnett, Doyald Young, Clement Mok and Michael Jager, Social, educational events like Syracuse ’Tinis and the IDSA mixer and educational events like BrandGAP, NittyGritty Teleforums and Rochester GAPS, just to name a few. We’re happy to bring these events to you independently, and with the help of our friends and allied professional organizations like Ad Club, IDSA, and Adobe.

Over these past 8 years professional membership in the chapter has been on a slow but steady increase reaching its highest level at 62 professionals in 2006. Student membership in the chapter is also strong between 170-240 members annually. However even in spite of these increases very few individuals step up for committee chairs to play an active role in the chapter. Fewer still take the opportunity for board positions. Our most recent elections were mailed to the more than 400 people on our mailing list. 3 individuals responded. They’ve since been welcomed as new board members.

Lately however, we’ve struggled to have high quality programming. This is not because of a lack of effort or available content, but because of a lack of participation from of the membership. In the past 18 months we’ve been forced to cancel two events and were unable to cover expenses of a third event due to poor attendance and incomplete information from potential attendees. After the cancellation of one event we heard from 8 members who had planned on attending but didn’t think it was important to pre-register. Had those individuals registered, the event would have been held as scheduled.

Because our events are held by members for the design community, pre-registration is critical for budgeting and planning the events successfully. Imagine having your own event expecting 10 and 200 show up. It’s worse in reverse, expecting 200, and having only 10 in attendance. Either way, it’s difficult to manage events with inaccurate attendee information, and irresponsible of chapter leaders to spend chapter funds loosely.

Our events are not profit opportunities for the chapter; in fact of the $4,000 annual operating budget 73% is spent on programming. The remaining 26% is left for chapter operations such as board meetings and e-commerce expenses, and postage. We frequently have very gracious individuals or companies provide gifts-in-kind for event services. Aside from these generous gifts of time and services, our events and our chapter are run without underwriting or sponsorship.

On Wednesday April 23, 2008 we had to cancel an event with guest Debbie Millman. Of the needed audience of 100, we had 24 individuals registered and paid through our on-line registration system. We know these 24 people and the board responsible for organizing the event were thrilled that Ms. Millman was able to come to our chapter.

Could it be that our membership is time poor? Or is it something else. Does our membership and those involved in the design industry of Upstate New York – simply not care to participate in this professional organization? AIGA is an international community of professionals dedicated to the strengthening of its industry through participation in its local professional community. The strength of the group
depends on individual support.

If you are a member of AIGA and practicing your profession in the Upstate NY Chapter area you should be registered as an Upstate NY Chapter member. Administering AIGA programs locally through chapters makes it possible to better serve the needs of the membership. Support your local chapter. Get involved and help make being a member of AIGA Upstate NY a great experience.

This is your organization. Each member has a stake in the future of the chapter, and a voice in shaping the chapter. It is important for the board to hear your honest thoughts and provide us feedback on what is the future of AIGA Upstate New York. The chapter is in jeopardy due to the lack of member participation.

Please participate in a discussion to help us all get back on track. This
letter will be posted on our blog for discussion at upstatenewyork.aiga.org —registration
required for discussion.

I also welcome your feedback via e-mail directly to m a r c <at> stressdesign.com.

Sincerely,

Marc V. Stress
President
AIGA Upstate New York