--- title: "What Satisfying Member Needs Means Now" id: "61195" type: "post" slug: "what-satisfying-member-needs-means-now" published_at: "2026-03-16T16:39:29+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:05:46+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/16/what-satisfying-member-needs-means-now/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/16/what-satisfying-member-needs-means-now.md" excerpt: "From the statehouse to the convention center, members want real wins and evidence that joining will help them get ahead." taxonomy_category: - "Organizational Strategy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » What Satisfying Member Needs Means Now Part of the Deep Dive[The Association Imperative](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/the-association-imperative/) What have you done for me lately? In 2026, that question is top-of-mind for association members—which means it’s a top concern for association leaders. Sweeping changes at federal agencies have made the lives of many professionals uncertain, as have ever-shifting tariff rates. Today’s association members are looking for practical solutions to their more pressing problems—and confidence that the association is equipped to provide them. “In the past, members joined because they wanted to belong to something, because it’s the right thing to do, or it’s what professionals in their space did—and that is just not true anymore,” says Chris Vaughan, chief strategy officer at Sequence Consulting. “They don’t want to belong to something; they want to become something. Help me get the job, help me get the promotion, make me more visible, get me promoted.” To that end, associations today are as much active problem-solvers as they are conveners or trainers. At the Tennessee Society of CPAs, that’s meant a strong focus on the serious pipeline problem facing the accounting industry. Enrollment in accounting programs has declined, which results in fewer people sitting for the CPA exam, even while the need for tax preparation, audits, and other accounting tasks has grown. In 2025, TSCPA scored a win on that front, drafting legislation that added an additional pathway to licensure for the CPA, reducing the total hours required and expanding interstate mobility of the credential. That was last year’s victory, but it came after an extensive effort to recognize CPAs’ workforce challenges. A task force studied research, convened members, and developed an action plan that led to the legislation. “The thing that I’m proud of is that during that task-force process, we invited representatives from the state, from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, to participate,” says TSCPA President and CEO Kara Fitzgerald. “That helped them to really understand the issues the accounting profession was facing. So, once we got to the point of our board of directors approving that we would move forward with legislation to add an additional pathway, we had the support of state leaders.” TSCPA is also addressing the pipeline issue by putting its members in front of future professionals—who are getting younger and younger. In 2021, the association created the Student Outreach, Advancement and Recruitment (SOAR) Partner Program, through which members visit schools to promote the profession. Initially the focus was on colleges, but research has encouraged TSCPA to adjust. [Mark Athitakis](https://associationsnow.com/author/mark-athitakis/) Mark Athitakis, a contributing editor for Associations Now, has written on nonprofits, the arts, and leadership for a variety of publications. He is a coauthor of The Dumbest Moments in Business History and hopes you never qualify for the sequel. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/mark-athitakis/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **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. ## More in this Deep Dive - [Risk, Resilience, and How to Find Opportunity in Upheaval](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/13/risk-resilience-and-how-to-find-opportunity-in-upheaval/) - [Secrets of Agile Associations](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/13/secrets-of-agile-associations/) - [When Careers Break, Associations Matter More Than Ever](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/13/when-careers-break-associations-matter-more-than-ever/) - [Can You Hear Me Now?](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/16/can-you-hear-me-now/) - [Why Messaging Should Be a Part of Your Core Brand Strategy](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/16/why-messaging-should-be-a-part-of-your-core-brand-strategy/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/the-association-imperative/) ## You Might Like - [VideoChallenge Legacy Mindsets at MMC+TechApril 17, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/04/17/challenge-legacy-mindsets-at-mmctech/) - [Video2026 Summit Awards DinnerOctober 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/02/2026-summit-awards-dinner/) - [VideoAmerican Geophysical Union: Standing Up for Science: AGU’s Year of Action for Scientists and SocietySeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-geophysical-union-standing-up-for-science-agus-year-of-action-for-scientists-and-society/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) ## 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%2F2026%2F03%2F16%2Fwhat-satisfying-member-needs-means-now%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !