2004 Membership Committee Report
2003 has been a relatively successful year in terms of
recruitment of new members. Over a period of six months, from October 2003
to March 2004, a total of 307 regular members and 229 student members have
been approved. The new members represented a large and broad group of
physiologists. Our recruiting efforts have been very successful in
attracting more female members. There has also been significant increase in
Asian, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian members, indicating that the
society is reaching to members of all different racial backgrounds and
heritages. The vast majority of members hold a PhD and/or MD. Members with
other degrees such as DVM, DM, MBBS, MSc, MA, and EdD are also represented.
The new members represent a good cross section of all academic positions and
ranks including Professors, Research Scientists, Postdoctoral and Research
Fellows, as well as Chairpersons, Vice Presidents, Associate Deans, and
Teachers.
During the same reporting period, there was a decrease
in regular membership by 849 and in student membership by 1,190. That
resulted in a net decrease in the number of members by 1,552 or 14%. The
decrease in membership could be attributed to three factors: 1) the usual
attrition of membership that we experience each year; 2) the increase in
regular membership dues, although this effect may not be completely apparent
until 2006 (two years after dues are in arrears); and 3) the fiscal year
dues changes from July-June to January-December cycle.
The Membership Committee met in Washington, DC at the
April Experimental Biology 2004 meeting. The primary topic of discussion at
the meeting was how the Committee might best serve the Society so that it
can continue to attract and recruit new members. Although there was an
agreement among members that the observed decrease in membership could be
largely due to fiscal year dues changes, the Committee felt that possible
measures may need to be considered in order to retain the current members
and to decrease the dropout rate.
One of the issues raised at the meeting was to
emphasize the importance of being an APS Member. Being a member of APS is
an honor and a great privilege. Members would have great pride if they
could be identified among other attendants of a scientific meeting as APS
Members. It was proposed that the ID badge at the Experimental Biology
meeting would include the term “APS MEMBER”. The term should be written in
an attractive color and large font and should be clearly visible.
It was also suggested that established and senior
physiologists should be invited to write a brief note in the American
Journal of Physiology or The Physiologist indicating from their
own experience the benefits they achieved from being APS members. Postdocs
could also be invited to write a note indicating their personal experience
and how the student membership helped them in their early careers.
The decreased membership number over the past six
months was carefully discussed. It was suggested that additional statistical
data should be collected to determine whether there is a possible inverse
relation between the number of years of membership and the dropout rate. It
was also recommended that the members’ mailing addresses should be updated
regularly. Dropouts should be contacted first at the address provided in
their application. Failure to respond after five trials would initiate a
direct contact with the institution and request for a forwarding address.
The increased dropout rate was particularly evident among student members.
It was noted that 84% of the student members being dropped for nonpayment of
dues have never paid dues. However, it was also noted that the student
group is the most likely to relocate, and special measures should be taken
to maintain an updated and revised student mailing list.
Members are contacted a maximum of five times in order
to encourage dues payment. The Society sends three email notifications and
two mailed, paper dues notices. The Committee suggests that included in
these communications are bullet points outlining the benefits of membership.
Additionally, the mailed dues notice letter should include a letter from an
established physiologist (for regular members) and a postdoc (for student
members) describing their personal experience and the benefits they gained
from being members of APS. If a member still fails to pay dues after the
fifth contact, the Society should send a questionnaire asking why the member
does not wish to maintain membership in the Society. The questionnaire
should ask what other societies the individual belongs to. The list of
members being dropped for nonpayment of dues should be sent annually to the
Membership Committee so they can directly contact members and convince them
to retain their membership.
In summary, this is a time of change for the Membership
Committee. The duties related to review of applications has been
streamlined, freeing up time for the Committee to focus on other important
goals, especially those related to recruitment and retention. On behalf of
the Committee members, I would like to say that we continue these important
duties with great enthusiasm.
Raouf A. Khalil, Chair
Council Actions
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Council accepted the report of the Membership Committee.
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Council approved a motion requesting that those
members be dropped receive a letter from the members’ section chair
encouraging him/her not to drop their APS membership.
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Council approved the request that the list of dropped
members be sent to the Membership Committee each year for possible
follow-up from the Committee.
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