As you know I am a huge fan of Nina Simon, who pens Museum 2.0. Lindy and I finally got to meet her last week (we’re doing a pre-conference workshop with her for WebWise 2009, a techy conference for museum and library folks in DC), and it was instant connection. She’s totally as awesome in person as in her writing.

Anyway, she emailed us a post she had written several years ago on her blog about her perception of professional associations, that she thought might amuse us. It did, and I asked her permission to reprint it here. The original post is here, but this is it in its entirety.

Professional Associations that Don’t Suck

I had dinner last week with some excellent folks from the board of NAME, the National Association for Museum Exhibition, a standing professional committee under AAM (American Association of Museums). They are trying to find better ways to provide value to their members, so that they can a. have a more active, engaged, useful role in people’s work and b. attract and retain members. We discussed a variety of ideas from book clubs to Second Life meet-ups to exhibition critiques… but I left wondering more about the bigger picture of professional associations and their use and value.

There are three basic reasons to be part of a professional association: to learn, to network, and to get a job. There are also the “perks”—the magazine, free admission to museums—which enhance learning.

Feeling pumped and ready to join? I’m not. I’m a perfect example of the challenge these associations are facing. I joined AAM just to get a cheaper ticket to the conference. I can’t even join ASTC as an individual. And since I can access their resources, the list-servs, and the conferences without being a member, why bother?

What’s the value of being a member of a professional association? I think about things I’m a member of. A co-op: we live and cook and clean–but in exchange we get a manufactured family. A political party: I check a box, and get to be “part of something” bigger that acts on my behalf (theoretically). A temple: A community for ethical learning, emotional connections, singing, and eating challah. In all of these cases, I’m giving a lot more than $40, and getting a lot more than a tote bag. If membership in a professional organization is going to become highly relevant and valuable to people, the experiences available have to got to step up.

What kind of professional organization would I want to be a member of?

-One that has a clear vision and stands for values that are important to me. This is the “spiritual center” model of an organization. I want an organization that is totally dedicated to exploring the “best self” possible for museums, so in the time I slice off to focus on that organization, I feel that I am getting a deeper, more substantive learning experience than just swapping war stories.

-One that has diverse membership for me to learn from and engage with. I’m already talking to colleagues at work. It’s hard to be motivated to initiate the same kind of conversations with strangers–give me someone with a different take on it.

-One that provides me with great services. Yes, the museum admission perk for AAM is substantive, but what about the kind of mentoring, education, and experiences that take me outside of my comfort zone? How about monthly meetups ala Dorkbot? Mentor partners? Blog/web hosting space?

-One that is so cool, visionary, and exciting that I want to be a member just so I can put the bumper sticker on my car and say to the world, I’m part of this gang. And this is the key, I think, to actually wanting to go the extra mile from being a user/participant to signing the dotted line for membership. I want to be a member of an organization that makes me feel the way I feel about my favorite bands and writers. I want my membership to make me proud, passionate, heck-even sexy-the way I feel when I have paint on my jeans or I’m reading Bitch on the subway. I want an organization with heart, that can help define who I am and want to be.

And then, bring on the tote bags.

What do you think? Is your association cool, visionary and exciting? Do your members want the bumper sticker on their cars? Even more, do you enable your members to spread the love about you?

If not… what are you waiting for?