Why you should join as a Supplier Partner In today's marketplace, success is determined by effective relationship
building. As a provider of products and services, your success within the
association market is dependent upon establishing a visible and credible
presence from which to build relationships. Let a membership in Association
Forum be your letter of introduction!
The Chicagoland association market is a dramatic one:
- Consisting of more than 1,500 organizations, 80 percent of which are
national or international in scope
- Controlling more than $11 billion in purchasing power and convention
delegate expenditures
- Representing the #2 association headquarters city and #1 healthcare
association headquarters city
The Forum gives you opportunities to establish professional relationships
with the decision-makers in these organizations, create valuable contacts, and
provide greater visibility for your company. As an active Forum member you will
expand your network, create awareness of your products and services, realize
professional friendships, gain a greater knowledge of the needs of the
association marketplace, and demonstrate your commitment to the association
community.
Association Of Associations
Association Forum is the "association of associations" headquartered in the Chicagoland
area. The 3700 Forum members are full-time, paid CEOs and professionals of
voluntary and donor-based organizations. Our membership also includes more than
900 supplier partner members who provide goods and services to these
organizations.
As the oldest organization of its kind in the United States,
Association Forum has represented association professionals and their suppliers in the
Chicagoland area for more than 80 years. Today, Association Forum represents
more than 3,000 members from the area's 1,547 international, national, state,
and local associations and from supplier companies such as yours.
Take a moment to learn how the benefits of membership will increase your
effectiveness and expertise in this market, and discover how Forum membership is
one of the best professional investments you can make.
$11 BILLION Marketplace
The Chicagoland association market represents $3.1 billion in purchasing
power for everything from meeting locations and technology, to insurance and
legal services, to accounting and other services.
Hospitality Industry If your organization is involved in the hospitality
industry, Forum membership is critical to your success in the association
marketplace. Chicagoland associations:
- annually spend $513 million on meetings, conventions, and trade show
expenditures, and
- represent a nearly $8 billion association meetings and convention market
through convention delegate spending.
Business Services Association Forum is more than
just meetings! Business service providers also profit from Association Forum
membership. Chicagoland associations' annual collective revenue of $3.1 billion
is expended as follows:
- Printing $181,291,394
- Rent $102,124,077
- Staff Air Travel $49,890,713
- Insurance Premiums $49,146,399
- Office & Computer Supplies $46,530,513
- Computer Hardware and Software $40,380,436
- Outside Legal Fees $27, 685,269
- Accounting/Auditing Fees $14,730,677
- Graphic Arts & Design $13,419,379
Holiday Showcase: Chicagoland's #1 Meeting Sites and Business Services Expo!
Whether you're marketing conventions and meeting destinations, hotels,
insurance, legal services, technology, membership and communication services, or
just about any other service used by associations, the Holiday Showcase Sites
and Services Exposition provides you with a cost-effective marketing strategy.
Holiday Showcase is a
don't-miss opportunity to address a specialized audience. Consider this:
- Holiday Showcase attracts more than 1,800 qualified buyers each year.
- More than 96% of Holiday Showcase attendees are satisfied or very
satisfied with the show.
- More than 50% of trade show attendees come to see and learn about "what's
new."
- 80% of attendees are final decision-makers or influence decision-making.
Holiday Showcase is a powerful venue for sites & services suppliers and
it's conveniently wrapped up for you in a one-day format. As an Association
Forum member, you'll be eligible for reduced rates at Holiday Showcase and will
be able to make the most of the exhibition's 5:1 buyer to seller ratio. Plus,
you'll see exciting top-name speakers during the luncheon. Here's your chance to
meet potential clients, visit with current clients, and renew contacts and
friendships.
Spread The Word
Your marketing program would be incomplete without an advertising
campaign designed to reach key decision-makers. Increase your visibility and keep
your name in front of association professionals with Association Forum publications.
FORUM
If you need to reach the association market ... Choose
FORUM. Association Forum 's award-winning publication reaches the decision-makers:
CEOs and senior level professionals at national associations. Readers place FORUM above
the competition, outperforming other industry publications. With FORUM, you get
what you pay for... quality readers from some of the nation's largest
associations, with a guaranteed, 100-percent-paid readership.
But FORUM is much more than just advertising. Our information-packed
publication lets you follow the advancements of your clients and keep current
with the news, trends, and issues facing members.
Annual
Membership Directory As the premier one-stop
reference guide for association goods and services, the Forum 's annual
membership directory and Buyers Guide delivers your message to Chicagoland's
association CEOs and senior professionals year-round! You'll be listed in the membership
section and will receive a free 40-word listing in the Buyers Guide section,
providing prospective clients insight into your company. And, members receive
one copy annually.
Direct Mail For all of your important direct-mail
campaigns, the Association Forum mailing list is available for one-time rental
to help you create greater impact and visibility in your promotional campaigns.
Sponsorships Go the extra
step with sponsorship opportunities. Sponsor a refreshment break, luncheon, or
reception at an educational conference; Holiday Showcase prizes; special events;
member-get-a-member campaigns; and other events and programs. In return, you
will receive exposure through promotional materials, FORUM, displays, and more!
Member Interaction
Association Forum membership offers you educational opportunities designed to
expand your knowledge of the association market. Your membership affords you
discounted rates at our one-day conferences, and provides you with excellent
opportunities to meet potential customers and strengthen old friendships.
Educational Conferences Association Forum is
the leading educational resource for association professionals and suppliers in the
Chicagoland area. Our educational programs keep you abreast of current and
emerging trends in the industry.
Our Annual Meeting and Leadership and Management Conferences are packed with
20+ courses, ranging in topic from "big picture" issues to specialized sessions
on a particular subject. Scheduled networking breaks, luncheon, and
post-conference receptions encourage member interaction.
Leadership/Recognition Opportunities Demonstrate
your commitment to serving the association community by serving on a committee,
speaking at a conference, and/or authoring an article in FORUM. While becoming
more visible, you also help shape the direction and ensure the future success of
Association Forum .
In addition, the Annual Awards Luncheon (in conjunction with the Annual
Meeting) honors a supplier partner member with Association Forum's Supplier
Partner Member Service Award.
New Member Orientation Break bread with other new
members at scheduled new member breakfasts. You'll immediately begin making
contacts and meeting your peers.
Professional Services
Take advantage of these additional membership services:
www.associationforum.org Dial in and link up to the
Forum's Web site. Our site keeps you up-to-date on Forum and industry
happenings, provides information on upcoming events, allows you to search the
FORUM archives, and more!
Association Forum Membership
Categories of Membership
Supplier Partner Represents goods and/or services
to associations and is based in the Chicagoland area
Policies of Membership Association Forum is an
individual membership society. Membership in Association Forum is individual
rather than organizational and is fully portable in the event of a change of
employer. With your written permission, Association Forum will transfer your
membership to another individual at your company should you leave or if the
membership is no longer applicable to your position.
Substantial discounts are offered to members and may not be transferable to
co-workers/nonmembers. You will receive a pro-rated credit for the unused
portion of your membership dues when you receive your first membership renewal
for April 1. Membership dues are non-refundable in accordance with the bylaws.
If you are:
- Accountants and Auditors
- Advertising Specialists & Incentive Providers
- Airlines
- Attorneys
- Audio/Visual Services
- Communication/PR Consultants
- Computer Services and Products
- Convention and Exhibit Services
- Convention Bureaus
- Convention Centers
- Desktop Publishing and Graphic Arts
- Employee Benefits
- Entertainment Services
- Event Planners
- Executive Search/Outplacement Firms
- Financial Institutions
- Fundraising Consultants
- Hotels and Resorts
- Insurance Companies and Brokers
- Legislative Affairs Specialists
- Mailing Houses
- Management Consultants
- Marketing Consultants
- Membership Services
- Office and Administrative Services
- Parliamentary Consultants
- Printers
- Publishers
- Real Estate and Relocation Specialists
- Restaurants
- Speakers Bureaus
- Technology Vendors
- Telecommunications Services
- Travel Agents
- Web Designers
- and many more...
Join today and begin Profiting by Association!
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