Association managers frequently attend or lead meetings.
Association management is like business management, but it is used in an association, which is a different type of business. Membership management services are often performed by Membership Management Companies (AMCs). Association management responsibilities include managing employees and finances, as well as setting and meeting goals for the association’s progress. Some AMCs also handle public relations and marketing functions for associations.
An important part of association management is planning the progress of an organization so that it can grow and function successfully.
In the business world, an association is an organization that collects dues from its members in exchange for services that help advance the business interests of its members. Memberships come in various sizes, from just a few members to several thousand members. They also have very different budgets depending on the size and scope of services of the organization and its members.
Association managers oversee personnel and finances, as well as set operating goals.
Monitoring the conduct of the association means supervising the employees of the association to ensure that they behave in an ethical manner in accordance with the objectives of the association. Rules of ethical behavior for association employees include limits on gifts received by association employees, addressing workplace behavior and preventing conflicts of interest resulting from employment or business relationships maintained by employees of the association. If an association handles confidential information, the association’s management is also responsible for ensuring that the confidential information remains confidential.
An important part of association management is planning the progress of an organization so that it can grow and function successfully. Membership management executives plan goals, design events, and create services in an effort to run and improve an organization smoothly. It is also the role of the association management company to devise effective plans for completing tasks related to the advancement of the association and a means of measuring the success of the association under management. Part of that responsibility includes completing the project on time and within the allocated budget.
As association members pay dues to join the association, members are important to the financing of an association. Marketing and public relations are an important part of obtaining membership for the association. Most AMCs also handle promotion and marketing while running an association, although some associations have dedicated marketing teams that don’t handle management duties. A large association is more likely to have a marketing department dedicated to public relations than a small company.
Marketing tasks that can be useful in managing an organization include advertising, press, and reputation management. The association’s staff went about marketing design ads, buying ad space, and connecting with members of the press to make big announcements. When an association has an online presence, marketing may also include an online reputation manager who can handle internet complaints that affect the company’s overall reputation.