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A Chaidre
What is the goal of membership in a professional organization? Perhaps a better question is what was your goal in joining? My goals were to learn, to get involved, to collaborate and to share. Ultimately I hoped membership would lead to a better job. However, I have found the traditional membership model of professional organizations to be restrictive and often frustrating. In October 2010, I and a colleague Brad Semans, started an organization called Saitama City Educators (SCE). What we have come to call the Contributor model developed quite naturally over time. Below are some reflections on professional development.
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The Membership Model
The traditional membership model presents several barriers to participation. First is cost. Participation can be expensive. Even organizations with free memberships, like ETJ, have paid events. As the music, movie and games industries can attest, it is difficult to get consumers to pay for content. Consumers are however, still willing to pay for a quality product. What is needed is an honest reevaluation of the costs and benefits of membership.
The traditional membership model is often a Hobson's choice. For example, as a local member of a JALT Chapter I cannot join a Special Interest Group (SIG). This is not an arbitrary rule but who does it benefit? If the rule exists for administrative reasons, then convenience not service seems to be the prime consideration. In a paid model is this reasonable? What is needed is a flexible, even bespoke, membership model.
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An army can only have so many generals. Arguably the best contribution anyone can make to a professional organization is to attend regularly, as a regular member. Two important questions when considering membership:
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1. How are your contributions recognized?
 2. If your circumstances change how can you continue to reap the benefits of your work?
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For example, both JALT and ETJ are organized geographically. Both are niche teaching organizations. What is needed is a membership model that doesn't become irrelevant if you move house or change career.
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T h e t r a d i t i o n a l m e m b e r s h i p m o d e l s e r ve s t h e organization rather than the member. Websites showcase the organization rather than the membership. Publications often ask members to conform to extensive criteria they had no input in creating and have no ability
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