Why become a member of a professional organization?

In today's fast paced business and personal environment, it is important to prioritize our commitments. Depending on training and background, professional membership may or may not have been encouraged, but whether you are just beginning your career, are in a position to provide leadership or are coming to the end of your professional career, professional organizations provide many unique opportunities for professional growth.

Membership in a professional association offers numerous benefits. Whether you join an industry-specific group, a special focus organization, a neighborhood-based merchants' association or the local chapter of a national trade organization, you'll make valuable professional contacts and gain access to a wealth of useful information.

Basic benefits of professional membership societies

Although each organization has its own unique advantages, most professional associations offer some or all of the following basic benefits:

• Exclusive online resources. The websites of most professional associations offer "members-only" sections that provide access to a variety of databases and message boards, as well as list-serve subscriptions so that you can be notified via email about upcoming events and special activities that may not be open to the general public.
• Networking opportunities. When you join a professional organization, you'll deepen existing business relationships and make new contacts on a regular basis. Such networking goes beyond the exchange of business cards – as you attend periodic meetings, become active on a committee or take a prominent leadership role, you'll forge lasting ties with others who have common professional interests and similar business concerns. These relationships will be rich, ongoing sources of inspiration and ideas.
• Education. Many professional associations offer their members the chance to update their professional knowledge or acquire new job skills through seminars, workshops, break-out sessions at conferences and online courses.
• Free or discounted publications. Membership in many groups includes a free subscription to the organization's newsletter and journal. Some associations also offer their members free publications and discounts on CDs, journals, videos/DVDs and other materials.
• Conferences and seminars. Members are often given priority registration for their organization's meetings and may receive discounts on conference fees or special rates on related expenses.
• Support system. Members of professional associations can often take advantage of formal coaching or mentoring relationships with more experienced business people who provide guidance and useful insights. Even on an informal basis, such relationships can be a source of answers and solutions when you're facing a challenging situation in your business. At the very least, the feeling that you have a support network behind you can boost your confidence when problems arise.
• Political clout. Large national organizations often have committees to track federal and state legislative developments that could have an impact on their specific business or industry. Such organizations have a significant political presence that far exceeds that of individual members. Joining this type of professional organization enables you to tap into the group's political influence and resources.
• Civic leadership. As a individual professional, you may not have the time or resources to sponsor a charitable event, partner with an educational institution or otherwise participate in community activities. But if your professional organization is active in civic and philanthropic ventures, you can become involved in many worthwhile projects.

Joining a professional organization is beneficial for your own professional development and the future of your career. The connections you'll make, the resources made available to you and the ideas and advice you'll discover represent an outstanding return on what amounts to a modest, manageable investment of time, money and effort. It could turn out to be one of the best things you could do for yourself and your career.

American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) and the Society's Relationship to Members

The American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2008, and the society felt there was no better time than during its centennial year to announce its plans to kick off the next 100 years. During the first 100 years, ASAS broadened membership to almost 5000 members by 2008, developed diverse and dynamic membership programs, and fostered the growth of the premier journal in animal science and the premier animal science meetings.

At the beginning of our second hundred years we are facing some of the same challenges faced in our first hundred years but on a larger scale. Much like our founders asked, it is time for us to ask "Who is our membership?" and "Who should our membership become?". Our founders defined and reevaluated membership components twice as demographics of their traditional base changed. It is time for us to do the same to incorporate the expanded scope of the field of animal science. In fact as we move forward, we recognize that the current demographic makeup of ASAS will change and expand to reflect the difference between our traditional animal science base and the young animal scientists currently being trained. As we move forward, the society will continue to focus on animal science in terms of animal agriculture, but we plan to become more inclusive and begin to focus on the scientific issues of all animals used to benefit humans. In addition, we have entered a time in which we must return to our roots by increasing our focus on teaching, extension, and industry as well as increase our international presence and membership. It is also a time for us to change one of the most fundamental roles of ASAS in the field of animal sciences and in society. ASAS needs to continue to serve as a distributor of animal science information while enhancing its role as a creator of information pertaining to the field of animal science. ASAS has always stated that science needs to inform policy, but at this time we need to move a step further so that ASAS takes a more active role in using science to help shape policy. Essentially, ASAS needs to proactively serve as a voice for animal science and animal scientists. We need to leverage our strength as a diverse organization. ASAS has a history of reviewing its membership needs and working to meet those needs.

Benefits of Professional Membership: Some of the personal benefits afforded active members of the American Society of Animal Science include the following:

• A convenient means of keeping up to date on current scientific and production developments.
• An avenue for personal involvement in fostering high standards and professional developments in Animal Science.
• Full access on this Web site (www.asas.org) and the option to receive a printed copy of each monthly Journal of Animal Science.
• Receiving the Society's newsletter, Membership Directory, and advance registration information for national and sectional meetings.
• Reduced fees to present abstracts at national and sectional meetings and to submit manuscripts for publication in the Journal of Animal Science.
• Eligibility to provide personal leadership to the field of Animal Science by serving on the Board of Directors or society committees or by accepting other society assignments.
• Eligibility to be selected for prestigious society-sponsored awards.
• Reduced registration rates for the annual meetings.

Examples of Membership Services

Journal of Animal Science

The Society publishes the monthly Journal of Animal Science, a refereed forum for scientific research findings. The Journal is among the most frequently cited periodicals in its topic area. The Journal is available in electronic format to all ASAS members with individual memberships and is also available as a print subscription. Go To (http://jas.fass.org/subscriptions/) FAQs regarding Journal access.

National and Sectional Meetings and Symposia

ASAS holds a yearly national meeting and four sectional meetings. These meetings consist of presentations of scientific information, special symposia and invited speakers. In addition, the national meeting offers commercial exhibits.

Leadership on the Issues

Through the office of the FASS Executive Vice President-Scientific Liaison in Washington, D.C., the Society addresses national issues and problems affecting animal agriculture. (http://www.fass.org)

Printable Membership Application (pdf)