--- title: "Membership Strategies: New Plans for the Class of 2016" id: "32460" type: "post" slug: "membership-strategies-new-plans-for-the-class-of-2016" published_at: "2016-03-14T22:41:52+00:00" modified_at: "2016-03-14T22:41:52+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/03/14/membership-strategies-new-plans-for-the-class-of-2016/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/03/14/membership-strategies-new-plans-for-the-class-of-2016.md" excerpt: "Two associations share their plans for succeeding with younger members. Plus: The year's hottest marketing trends, straight from SXSW." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "member growth" - "Membership" - "NextGen" - "Young Professionals" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" - "Early Career" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Membership Strategies: New Plans for the Class of 2016 Spring is almost here, which means college seniors will soon don their caps and gowns and head out into the professional world. With a new graduating class entering the workforce, this summer will be rife with membership opportunities for trade associations. Eager to welcome young members, organizations like the [American Institute of CPAs (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aicpa.org/Pages/default.aspx) (AICPA) and the [American Psychological Association (opens in a new tab)](http://www.apa.org/) (APA) are making preparations to be more accessible and attractive to new grads making their first forays into their industries. One of the biggest changes the associations are making is to their virtual meeting and media strategies, which both AICPA and APA have restructured, according to interviews with *Folio* magazine. “We’re focused on building the future generation of CPA professionals, and we’re doing that by developing engaging career-awareness content for high school and university students,” [Joanne Fiore, AICPA’s vice president of professional media, pathways and inclusion told Folio reporter Tom Zind. (opens in a new tab)](http://www.foliomag.com/2016/youth-movement-attracting-next-wave-association-membership/) “We have a website that targets university students with a look and feel they can relate to.” APA has also restructured the way it reaches new industry members, leveraging a number of communication trends to improve transparency, change the public perception of psychology, and see which benefits younger members are looking for. “We’re looking at new ideas for how to make the APA relevant to existing and potential members,” [APA representative Kim Mills (opens in a new tab)](http://www.foliomag.com/2016/association-medias-identity-crisis-member-benefit-or-industry-voice/) said. “We’re posting more association-related information on the website, sending more communiques to members, and reaching out more to the media.” For additional insights, keep an eye on *Folio* as it continues to publish Q&As with more panelists from the upcoming [Association Media Summit (opens in a new tab)](http://www.foliomag.com/events/folio-association-media-summit/) . ### Tweet of the Day > My advice for emerging association professionals | Reid All About It [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/7lDSEPJgGL (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/7lDSEPJgGL) > [pic.twitter.com/0RYfxi0dp7 (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/0RYfxi0dp7) > > — Deirdre Reid, CAE (@DeirdreReid) [March 14, 2016 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/DeirdreReid/status/709442001725480960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) While AICPA and APA consider how to best bring new graduates into their associations, [association tech expert Deirdre Reid has some valuable professional advice (opens in a new tab)](https://deirdrereid.com/2014/03/13/advice-for-emerging-association-professionals/) for those freshly entering an association as an employee. ### Other Good Reads **Learn about this year’s hottest marketing trends,** with Epsilon’s Chief Digital Officer Tom Edwards’ list of five of the [biggest marketing and tech innovations featured at SXSW 2016 (opens in a new tab)](http://venturebeat.com/2016/03/13/5-marketing-trends-surfacing-at-sxsw-2016/) , via *VentureBeat*. **Using *Game of Thrones* to promote awareness.** The *International Rescue Committee* has [partnered with actors of the hit HBO show (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/business/media/nonprofit-ads-tap-game-of-thrones-to-highlight-real-world-conflict.html) to explain the harsh reality of refugees and global conflict. **It’s National Pi Day!** And that means it’s time to [check in with the Mathematical Association of America (opens in a new tab)](http://www.maa.org/news/3141592-celebrating-pi-day) to see how members of the mathematics community are celebrating the holiday. [Eli Zimmerman](https://associationsnow.com/author/eli-zimmerman/) Eli is studying Journalism at the University of Maryland. When not studying, he likes to relax with a nice book or a couple rounds at the local boxing gym. 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