AMOA REPORT
State associations confer
'Very few members
quit an association
because they 're mad
or because the
association took a stand,
even a disagreeable
stand. ' -Walt Maner,
Michigan association
10
By David Pierson
The State Association Conference
at the Conrad H ilton Hotel the day
before the AMOA Show dealt with
two specific areas of concern for
state associations-retaining
membership and organizing a
potential action committee.
But the first topic offered little that
those in attendance didn't already
know, and the second topic
appeared to be too restrictive to be
applied in many other states.
Still, the gathering of about forty
people (among them, state associa-
tion officers and executives) were
treated to a few helpful items of infor-
mation- not the least of which
included an AMOA "Special Report"
on state associations.
T he panel member charged with
the topic of membership retention,
W alt Maner of the Music Operators
of Michigan , stressed that "the
association must justify its existence
or else operators won't bother to
renew their membership."
T he only viable way for the state
association to retain membership,
Maner said, was for it to provide
programs and services all year long
and then to keep members aware of
these programs and services all year
long.
"To retain members," he pointed
out, "the association must be able to
meet their needs." He said the real
challenge of any association is the
apathetic member. H e is the most
likely not to renew. So it is the
responsibility of the association to
get him involved, to create programs
that will spur him to participate
actively.
But the unspoken fear among
association executives is that, if the
association really does its job and
takes decisive stands, it may alienate
and lose many of its members. It's a
real problem that has compromised
many associations-not only in this
industry-into inaction. But is it a
valid fear? Will decisive association
action lose membership?
Probably not. Said Maner , "Very
few members quit an association
because they're mad or because the
association took a stand, even a
disagreeable stand."
Maner's statement echoes what
other state association leaders have
learned. This past summer, for
instance, Paul Corey , executive
director of the Ohio association, told
Play Meter his state association lost
only a couple of members because of
the OMAA's controversial and
uncompromising stand against gray
area games.
"We can't ignore the fact," said
Maner, "that people belong to
associations because they want to
and not because they have to."
That 's the reason , he said,
associations must create programs
that provide useful services to
members.
Jim Hayes , president of the Ohio
association, was the other panel
member. His topic dealt with
organizing a political action
committee. The purpose of such a
committee is to generate industry
donations to be used as political
campaign contributions. A PAC
fund, some believe, could help
combat adverse legislation and may
even go a long way toward promoting
positive government programs
impacting on this industry .
Hayes said that it makes a big
difference when the money is
donated to political candidates.
" Primary money has more influence
than money donated in runoff
elections," he said. But he pointed
out the gamble associated with such
donations . "Money donated in pri-
maries is more chancy, especially if
there are many candidates."
Someone also pointed out it could
create an adverse effect if the candi-
date's opponent wins the election
and construes the donations as
being against him.
The Ohio association president
PLAY METER , January 15, 1982