In last month's Money Matters column, I focused on the association's long-range financial plan and highlighted the cost-cutting and revenue-producing procedures in place at headquarters as a means to providing cutting-edge products and services.
For fiscal year 2001, the average cost to provide service to one member is $229.30, including both program and administrative costs. The per-member statistics also indicate that the average membership revenue collected per member is $122.85--this amount is due to varying dues and fees rates by membership class. Thus, for each SLA member an additional $106.45 must be generated to provide SLA's current level of products and services. The cost per member has increased between 2000 and 2001 due to the increased level of service provided to the membership (especially in publications, annual conference, strategic learning and development, leadership, and research) and the investments made in advancing the virtual association.
It is anticipated that the costs of providing service to the membership will continue to escalate and the level of non-dues income required to sustain the services will also continue to increase. This remains a concern of management and leadership in terms of the long-term financial stability of the association.
What can you do to help counter this concern? One simple and immediate way is to pay your dues when you receive your first renewal notice. The average cost to the association for the dues renewal process is more than $7.50 per member. If every member paid their dues on the first renewal notice, the association would save nearly $6.00 per member. This cost savings translates into nearly $100,000, which would be available for investment into membership products and services. So please, when you receive your renewal notice, help the association help you- make a wise investment by paying your dues on the first notice.
For more information, contact Richard Geiger (geigerr@sfgate.com).
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