The Committee proposed that APS introduce an option to pay membership for multiple years: As the availability of funds for our members fluctuates from year to year, the introduction of an option for membership renewal for more than a single year is desired. It is proposed that two and three year renewals be available at a discount. It is expected that this will help with the retention rate.
Introduce an option for lifetime APS membership: As with the multiple year memberships, this would give our members an additional option for paying dues to the APS.
After the 2009 Summer Council meeting, a Task Force was formed to work with the Membership Committee to examine issues related to membership growth, retention, and benefits. After much discussion throughout the year and during the Committee meeting at EB10 some common themes emerged.
If growth of the APS membership is desired it needs to be strategic and maintain the current strengths of the organization. There is a general feeling that the traditional membership pool of physiologist may be exhausted as a source of new members. Potential new targets include international members, engineers, and industry scientists. The biggest membership benefit for these members is most likely the annual meeting and thus this should be central in the marketing strategy to these groups.
APS member benefits for graduate students are outstanding, dues are relatively in expensive, and there are many awards and travel fellowships that the students can apply for, and they enjoy discounted meeting registration. Additionally, the Trainee Advisory Committee has specifically targeted this group with symposia, designated listserv, as well inclusion with the governance of the individual sections.
APS member benefits for regular members are lacking. Discounted registration at the annual meeting is the most important tangible benefit for regular members. This is inadequate for a member that does not regularly attend Experimental Biology. Additional tangible benefits are needed for this group.
Differential submission fee to APS publications for APS members in good standing. Additional membership benefits related to APS Journal publications is desired.
Increase the fee for non-members that attend Experimental Biology. This would enhance the benefit already enjoyed by APS members that attend EB. This would provide a greater incentive for non-members attending EB to join the APS.
Provide an additional registration discount for international members attending Experimental Biology for the first time. This would target potential international members for APS membership by allowing them to attend EB for the first time at a discounted rate. This encourages them to experience the greatest member benefit (the meeting) for them for the first time.