Joining Professional Organizations by Dana Swanson Life Member, Zeta Epsilon/ΤΒΣ
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hile at the Northeast what professional organizations join. I Don’t worry themusic aboveeducation criteria just yet. District convention last year, was asked byabout several majors I thought they should join. WithMake the list broad, and include organizations outside out giving it any thought I rattled of your profession as well. The internet is an excellent off a list of those organizations I place to look, but also go to the library and see what belong to. But once I was back in journals it carries. Ask your professors! (see #5) my office, I started thinking about 4) Organize the list according to the criteria you’ve their question. Why do I belong identified as important to you. You’ll find that many orto all these organizations? What ganizations offer all the benefits you want and/or need, am I looking for in an organization when I join, and but some will offer only part of them or none at all. what makes me keep paying my dues year after year? 5) Ask around to find out who is a member of an Am I getting my money’s worth? organization on your list. Ask for their advice. An organiBefore you join any organization, it makes sense to zation may look terrific on paper, but do they live up to do some research on it. What are the benefits? What are their promises? You can also ask them why they joined, the responsibilities? What opportunities are available or didn’t join a particular organization. This information for involvement? As an administrator at a major medican be invaluable! cal school, I screened literally hundreds of applications 6) Rank order your list. Starting with the best each year. Students always think it is good to have a matches, check the membership criteria. Make sure long list of memberships on their vitas to make them you can afford to join! I recommend keeping separate look well-rounded. But the truth is, unless they actually lists for organizations in and out of your field so you get involved in the organizations (and I don’t mean just don’t join a bunch that are alike in scope at the expense going to meetings), these memberships mean little to of those that might have some benefit, but are outside admissions committees. of your profession. For example, I belong to Illinois Medical school applicants bombarded me with Women in Government for the sole purpose of networkquestions pertaining to what organizations look best on ing with state legislators. You never know when an ortheir applications. My response is to tell them the best ganization like this will prove an asset! If I rank ordered organizations are those they got involved in and were it with professional music organizations, it would be at not merely members of. There is no best organization the bottom. other than that which is best for you. To find out which 7) JOIN! Take advantage of your membership! Get organizations are best for you, I’ve developed a set of involved! Read the publications! Get to know other questions for you to consider before plunking down the members! As you move up the professional ladder, you membership dues. will need to reassess your memberships. Try to do this 1) Assess your financial standing. Though student on an annual basis. memberships are very reasonable, once you’ve joined A word on publications: Organizations publish ten or twelve, the cost does start to add up. Most promany different types of publications. Many have a newsfessional organizations offer student memberships, but letter or magazine, while others offer peer-reviewed many come with reduced benefits. You need to make journals and other research-oriented materials. Somesure you know what you are getting before you send times the research publications are an additional cost in your money. Do you really want or need all those above and beyond the membership. Make sure you benefits anyway? figure any extra cost into your budget! 2) Prioritize your wants/needs. You need to take Being a member has its benefits, as American Exstock of what you want/need out of an organization. press will tell you. But if you are going to join, make Are you looking for networking opportunities? How sure the benefits are right for you! } about publications? Do you want to get active in leadership? Most organizations have all of these possibilities awaiting you, but some are better than others. 3) Cultivate a list of possible organizations you could
The PODIUM, Spring 2003—27
