FRINGE BENEFITS
DANCE H
of
ow many times have you considered joining an organization, or have been asked why you belong to a particular organization, but essentially you may just want to know what can the organization do for you personally? Since belonging to an organization costs money, it would seem logical to ask “What can the organization do for me?” The probable answer could be nothing! It might be better to consider what the organization can do with you (with your support, expertise, energy and passion) and what can we achieve together. It’s actually the same principle one might apply to a business or career: it can’t do anything for you unless you first do something for it. Theodore Roosevelt put it very aptly when he said, “Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or the industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” The degree of success in business depends on the talents, time and energy expended, even more than the amount of money invested. The same holds true for the success of organizations. The dues dollars represent a personal investment, just as it does in one’s business. There are certain functions and services which the organization, acting in concert with its membership, can provide, but to be truly successful in its efforts, the organization requires the support and involvement of all its members. It needs the collective thinking of all concerned to create its vision and purpose, and it requires the physical effort of its membership to put plans into operation. It would appear that the people who argue most against or avoid paying membership dues are often the first to criticize, saying that the organization does them no good. However, they are often on the front line to enjoy the benefits that come their way as a result of the organization and the dues paid by the members. Benefits are the result of a lot of hard work and effort by the great number of individuals who devote time and energy to get the tasks done. Imagine 100 individuals going their separate ways to dam a river or build a highway: it would result in chaos. Those same efforts, now organized under a single leadership with mutually-agreed-upon plans, can give the group power and direction to be successful and find personal satisfaction and reward. But there are more benefits than that to a USA Dance membership. One, which is a pure bonus, is the benefit of social connection. Other benefits include improving your fitness/health, renewing your relationship with your spouse, fulfilling a sense of civic duty to your community, a way to find balance between job and family life and
S
ocially Yours By Jean Krupa, Social VP
INVEST IN YOUR ASSOCIATION TO INVEST IN YOURSELF. new-found friendships coming one’s way, simply because of membership. Many have found that these “fringe benefits” more than offset dues and other costs of participation. Meaning, “you can have your cake and eat it too.” To those who question the benefits of being an official member, my answer to this group is simply, “Get involved and find out.” September-October 2014
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