Value of Associations

[Glenn Miller]

How many are members?

How many are not?

Reasons?

Did you join just for the benefits or insurance?

How many are really active in their associations?

Which is better?

Are all the leaders good or is the association poorly run?

If you were in charge what would you change?

Are there too many?

Does an association have to charge its members a fee to be a real association?

[Steve Miller]

How many are members?

A. I have been but am no longer!

How many are not?

A. I raise my hand!

Reasons?

A. Did not see the benifit to myself or to DJing in general, what I did see was people divided by the politics of the associations.

Did you join just for the benefits or insurance?

A. No I never saw any benifits! I already had insurance that I have had with the same carrier for many years. I didn't see the point in changing just to save a couple of dollars.

How many are really active in their associations?

A. Not Me

Which is better?

A. Honestly I don't think there is much difference in any of them as can be seen in the DJ chat boards every day. The same back biting the same put downs on anyone with a different view point.

Are all the leaders good or is the association poorly run?

A. Which one? I am back to the same thing, way too many people want to make some kind of mark on the industry, to have their name mean something. What happens is they end up causing another black eye controversy in the industry.

If you were in charge what would you change?

A. If I were in charge the first order of business would be to disband the association.

Are there too many?

A. Even if there were only one. Maybe at some point there will be some people who will have enough forethought and common sense to run an association, that will benifit this industry. But for the right now I don't see that happening.

Does an association have to charge its members a fee to be a real association?

A. If we are talking about USODJA I thionk we can call this a loose association. Does there have to be a charge? no, I believe if there were that we would see the same pettiness in this association as we have in all the others both failed and still active.

[mp3jrick]

You don't want to ask me that........., you know the story already.

Better question would be, "what does your association do for you?"


Or........Ask not what your association can do for you, ask what you can do for your association.........

Nope, that didn't work either.....well some people make out ok

[Glenn Miller]

Just a point in case some are not sure, I am a host for some and a true member to the first one I created CODJA.... My question is for pure discussion and not a promotion for one or the other...

And even with CODJA, I am no longer an active member, I am still a member for the licencing.

[Jim Casey]

How many are members? I am a member of NAME, USODJA, PDJNE, and Co-Founder of MDJN

Reasons?I joined them as many Networking opportunities along with the insurance benefit. I can't begin to tell you how much I have benefitted from being an association member

Did you join just for the benefits or insurance?No

How many are really active in their associations?I would guess the number is only around 10%

Which is better?That is for individual judgement

Are all the leaders good or is the association poorly run?Let's just say that some leaders have a hard time listening to suggestions by the people supporting them

If you were in charge what would you change?Have an elected Board that works in conjunction with an Owner/CEO if you will.

Are there too many?No...there are not enough considering that as few as 1-3% of DJs belong

Does an association have to charge its members a fee to be a real association?[b]I know this has been a point you and I have debated before. I still believe in order to be able to recruit new members effectively, to have a director committed full-time and be able to negotiate on our behalf, yes you need to be a dues paying organization.

[Cap]

I belong to N.A.M.E. for the insurance. I belong to ADJA primarily because I don't like their direction and one cannot attempt to change things from outside the group. One must be a paid member to have an effective voice.

Personally, the current charter/mindset/direction of fledgling DJ organizations are totally off-base, and, combined with the plethora of forums, have done nothing for the image of the industry in the public eye. They have only provided free training to every newbie who stumbles upon these gratuitous freebies.

All these forums and organizations have done is to level the playing field...downwards.

On the plus side, and in total agreement with Jim, is the low cost group insurance rates and networking potential. For that, I am thankful as the personal relationships that have developed and grown with select peers is priceless.

A favorite saying:

If one doesn't know where the industry has been, one cannot possibly know where it's going.

[Cyderhouse]

ASSociations are nothing more then clicks or groups. I picture a bunch of old farts sitting anound a table complaining about something stuipd (usually takes place at a waffle house). Pretty useless if you ask me. I went to a few meetings and someone always was selling something. I lost intrest. Not for me. I have insurance on my own.

[djdonny]

I'm an ADJA member. I haven't gained too much from membership, especially since there are no local chapters near me. But I'm hoping to start one up this summer. I believe in ADJA's direction and goals, and I believe Peter Merry was an excellent voice of leadership (Drax has a hard act to follow). Meeting with Peter a couple of times convinced me to rejoin (I was one of those original members who left after all the early scandal).

[Pat Couture]

I'm a member of NAME, MDJN, and recently PDJNE.

I joined NAME primarily for the insurance. MDJN for the networking and comradery (sp?).

I recently attended the NAME conference in Philly. It was worth every penny and more just for the networking outside of the seminars. The seminars were top notch. I would not have known about this conference without the membership in NAME or MDJN. It made my business better because of them.

Just my 2 cents.

[Wolfie]

How many are members? We are members of the USODJA. I currently serve on the USODJA board as membership director.

Reasons? I was invited to serve by Glenn Miller and the board of directors. I feel that a personal approach (without the politics) will help the folks who work in this industry.

Did you join just for the benefits or insurance? Neither. Both are perks, however.

How many are really active in their associations? Not as many as I'd like to see.

Are all the leaders good or is the association poorly run? We are blessed with dedicated board members who give of their time. Whether an association is poorly run (or well-run) depends upon whom one asks. None of us is perfect. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Are there too many? No. Every association offers something different. When one association improves, the others should improve to remain competetive.

Does an association have to charge its members a fee to be a real association? No, of course not. While member dues support associations, dues also require regular financial accounting to the membership.

I hope it helps.