On December 29, 2010, the Association Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept the proposal of the Online Services Committee to replace the batch-oriented membership management system at headquarters, the dated and difficult to maintain Portal (aitp.org), and the social networking site (aitpnetwork.org) with a single, integrated web site at aitp.org. A two-year study by the Web Team has selected Yourmembership.com, a Software as a Service product to accomplish this. At least six other associations managed by our management company Smith-Bucklin have made this transition, so we have a well-marked trail to follow.
The new Association Membership Management System will be a self-service membership portal. New and renewing members will be encouraged to use the portal and save the environment by eliminating the paper application and the paper check, envelope, and postage stamp. In addition, you will save your association money by less processing cost at headquarters. Chapter rebates and reporting will be more automated, correct, and prompt.
Chapters and regions will be able to manage their entire web site on the Association Portal, including event registration and credit card processing. I encourage chapter and region leaders to see the complete demonstration at the Member Summit of these capabilities.
With all of the improvements forthcoming, one would expect all of these features would cost the association and you more money, but we full expect the new Portal will cost quite a bit less in 2012, than in 2010. This new Portal should be a profit center for the Association, instead of a cost center.
To make this migration, we need volunteers. This new Software as a Service does not require web development skills like the current portal. We will need several content administrators to keep the Portal fresh and current. If you want to volunteer some time to help make your association portal as good as it can be, send an email to webmaster@aitp.org.
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