Membership

Association members are more successful than nonmembers, according to report

More money and greater job satisfaction reported

People who belong to associations make more money and have greater job satisfaction than those who do not belong to associations, according to "Where the Winners Meet: Why Happier, More Successful People Gravitate Toward Associations," a report released by the William E. Smith Institute for Association Research, which was founded by SmithBucklin.

According to Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, the Institute's Director, key membership benefits that attract success-oriented members include:

• Continuing education opportunities
• Career development opportunities
• Community with other like-minded professionals
• Opportunities to serve and get involved
• Accountability on the part of the association

Association members earn, on average, $10,000 more a year than nonmembers, even if they have the same type of job and level of education. Association members are also 19 percent more likely to say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs than people who do not belong to an association.