LIG Solutions

Tim McNichols Group Publisher, Executive Director of Partnerships, LIG Solutions tmcnichols@ligsolutions.com Associations exist not only for the ability to connect oneself to one's marketplace or interests, but also to relate on a personal level with local chapters, national conferences, and other in-person events. All of this is tied together with the content, intellectual property, information, and/or data that most membership organizations posess. This collection of knowledge, while key, will not be the only thing that existing and prospective members look to their associations to provide. Your members need a deep and real member benefits program. With so many members becoming part of the "gig economy," starting their businesses, or have been impacted by job loss, they need benefits from their association that will help them thrive in this new world we are in. Our cover talks about the puzzle that is retention and recruitment, which impacts every part of a membership organization. This reminds me of many conversations I have had with the leaders of associations. This conversation is that being an association executive is like being handed an expert level puzzle with 5000 pieces where you dump out the box on the table to put together, and you find out that the picture of what the puzzle is supposed to be is not on the box top. You need to put the puzzle together and start with the easy parts, which are the edges and maybe a few blocks, but the stuff in the middle does not make sense without the picture to guide you. Working with partners like LIG Solutions can be very advantageous for association executives when trying to complete the puzzle of the keys to retention and recruitment, which goes hand in hand with having a solid member benefits program with real programs that members need. In this issue of LIG Association Solutions magazine, you will find a lot of information on how we help our association partners complete the association puzzle by offering a best-in-class member benefits program that is built on members' health and wellness and driven by real health insurance and pharmacy solutions that your members need. We hope you enjoy this issue of our magazine and join us for one of our upcoming webinars to talk more in-depth about our program or visit with us at the ASAE Annual Meeting, Non-Dues-a-Palooza, or Association Forum Holiday Showcase later this year. Learn More here: www.ligmembers.com Wishing you and yours continued good health, Tim McNichols, Group Publisher, and Executive Director of Partnerships at LIG Solutions Publisher's SOLUTIONS After the last year of pandemic lockdown, one thing became crystal clear: associations are essential. From the news media interviewing experts from some of the associations that you would expect, like medical or industry-specific like hotel, travel, and restaurants, to some that I am all sure we were surprised existed, including some small industry trade groups - these members became an important part of our fight against COVID-19. As we get back to what some hope will be "normal," I think associations and membership organizations stand to gain the most because I believe that people are looking to connect We had gotten away from much of this "networking" and in-person activities because we all saw the possibilities that the web made life more accessible, more in our face, and more omnipresent. But, and there is always a but, this came at a cost that I think the pandemic turned a spotlight on - that is the reason associations exist in the first place. with their peers or others in their industries like they have not done in years, really since the pre-internet days.

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