--- title: "Strength Through Diversity: Create a Strong Association" id: "17765" type: "post" slug: "strength-through-diversity-create-a-strong-association" published_at: "2013-06-03T23:00:12+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:03:38+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/06/03/strength-through-diversity-create-a-strong-association/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/06/03/strength-through-diversity-create-a-strong-association.md" excerpt: "The strength of an association isn’t determined by size, but by the loyalty of it’s diverse members. Also: Why the less is more strategy works." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "community support" - "Membership" - "Neurodiversity" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Strength Through Diversity: Create a Strong Association Some say strength is in numbers, but in the world of associations, a strong association (big or small) can be more about the quality of its members, not the membership count. > History, experiences, training, location, and career paths make everyone different—even within a very focused industry or member group. Let’s take a look at how fostering a loyal community of diverse members creates a strong association, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Loyal Cultural Exchange > The Future of Associations– When Has It Ever Been Easy? [http://t.co/gmGye4V6xF (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/gmGye4V6xF) > [#ogcsae (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ogcsae?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — CSAE Ottawa-Gatineau Network (@ogcsae) [June 3, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/ogcsae/status/341591727959863296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Associations are the future of our society.** They leverage diversity and create powerful communities. But in order for associations to stay strong in the years to come, they must realize that connectivity relies on the diverse loyalty of their members. In a blog post on [Affinity Insights (opens in a new tab)](http://affinityinsights.com/2013/05/10/the-future-of-associations-when-has-it-ever-been-easy/) , titled “The Future of Associations—When Has it Ever Been Easy,” author David Carrithers writes, “History, experiences, training, location, and career paths make everyone different—even within a very focused industry or member group.” Differences amongst loyal members open up the door for valuable cultural exchange, which in the end, strengthens the association. How are you building strength through diversity? (*ht [@ogcsae (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/ogcsae) )* ### Don’t Overwork It https://twitter.com/shellyalcorn/status/341587465196412928 **Sometimes less is more, especially in business.**Innovation is steeped in thinking outside of the illusive box, but a simpler approach can often be the starting point of brilliant creativity. “We use the term ‘breakthrough simplicity’ to describe an approach to innovation that is rooted in finding new ways to make everything simpler,” writes Irene Etzkorn in her and Alan Siegel’s book *[Simple: Conquering the Crisis of Complexity (opens in a new tab)](http://www.fastcodesign.com/1672583/how-to-improve-any-service-by-simplifying-it)*, which *Fast Company* recently excerpted. By taking a step back from throwing around a bunch of ideas in order to satisfy the need to “think outside the box,” applying a simpler approach could be a winning idea. *(ht @[shellyalcorn (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/shellyalcorn/status/341587465196412928) )* Winning ideas could be the result of simple innovation. Has simplicity worked for you? Share your thoughts in the comments. [Jasmine McGee](https://associationsnow.com/author/jasmine-mcgee/) Jasmine McGee is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jasmine-mcgee/) Tags: [#community support](https://associationsnow.com/tag/community-support/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#Neurodiversity](https://associationsnow.com/tag/neurodiversity/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoLeading the Way in Neuroinclusion with ASAE Research Foundation and MPIDecember 16, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/16/leading-the-way-in-neuroinclusion-with-asae-research-foundation-and-mpi/) - [VideoWhy Neuroinclusion Matters: Raising Awareness Across the Association CommunityDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/why-neuroinclusion-matters-raising-awareness-across-the-association-community/) - [VideoMoving Neuroinclusion From Afterthought to Standard PracticeDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/moving-neuroinclusion-from-afterthought-to-standard-practice/) - [VideoIntentional Inclusion: Why Thoughtful Decisions Matter for Neurodivergent CommunitiesDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/intentional-inclusion-why-thoughtful-decisions-matter-for-neurodivergent-communities/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F06%2F03%2Fstrength-through-diversity-create-a-strong-association%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !