Membership Value Isn’t Dead, But It Has Changed
Part 1 of a series on how membership is changing across professional societies and trade associations Members haven’t stopped looking for value. They’ve simply become much more selective about where they find it. Many associations are asking the same question right now: Why is membership declining? But there may be a more important question underneath it: What has fundamentally changed about […]
Associations May Be One of the Best Antidotes to Loneliness
Depending on which survey you read, somewhere between 20% and 60% of Americans say they feel lonely. That is a staggering number. We often think of loneliness as a personal issue, but increasingly, it is becoming an organizational and societal challenge too. Employees feel disconnected. Young professionals struggle to build meaningful networks. Longtime members retire […]
A Rebrand Isn’t a Design Project. It’s an Organizational Decision.
Every association reaches a moment where its brand no longer matches where it’s going. Sometimes it’s subtle.Membership growth slows.International engagement doesn’t convert.New audiences don’t quite “see themselves” in the organization. Other times, it’s more obvious.The name feels limiting.The story feels outdated.The brand reflects who you were – not who you’re becoming. And that’s when the […]
The NorthStar Summer Survival Guide
How to Answer “So… What Do You Do?” The days are getting longer.Flowers are blooming.Calendars are filling up.And summer is finally on the horizon ☀️ Which means… BBQs, beach days, happy hours—and that question: “So… what do you do?” If you’re an association executive, you already know, this isn’t always the easiest question to answer. […]
Wait…That’s a Job? The Roles it Takes to Run an Association.
Association Management Company (AMC) Edition Ever been to a great conference?Gotten a helpful member email?Taken a certification course that actually made sense? Yeah… that didn’t just happen. Behind every well-run association is something most people don’t see: It’s not just one role.It’s a combination of expertise—sometimes a team, sometimes a network—working together. From education and […]
Why Partner with an AMC?
A Smarter Way to Support Growth, Stability, and Impact At some point, every association faces a pivotal question: How do we best support our organization as it grows and evolves? For many, that leads to a deeper conversation: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But for a growing number of organizations—especially those navigating change, growth, or complexity […]
NorthStar Association Management Launches with a Hands-On, Flexible Support Model for Associations
NorthStar Association Management officially launched February 2, offering full-service association management and outsourced, project-based support for associations seeking experienced, hands-on partnerships. Built for mission-driven organizations that value flexibility and impact, NorthStar works closely with boards, volunteers, and association professionals to provide full-service management as well as outsourced and fractionalized support for associations of any size. This includes interim and short-term staffing, membership strategy and […]