In 2007, AACPM Membership Will Have More Privileges

The development of an enhanced membership benefit package for members of the American Academy of Certified Public Managers® (AACPM) is coming to fruition as the New Year rolls forward.

For years, AACPM members and officers alike have discussed the potential of developing an enhanced membership benefit package for Academy members that will help answer the “What’s in it for me?” question Society and Academy leaders often hear in recruiting members.

Beginning in January 2007, an enhanced membership benefits package is being offered. The first known benefit for all renewing and new members of the Academy will be a year’s subscription to the electronic version of “The Public Manager” magazine.
In an unprecedented effort, the AACPM Board of Directors has established a National Sponsors Committee to focus attention to this important area. The action was taken at the Board’s meeting in Louisville, Kentucky in September, following the annual House of Delegates meeting. Brought to the table by President-elect Julie R. Felice, CPM, of Utah, Academy members appointed to this Committee were jointly selected by AACPM President Bill Herman, CPM, of New Hampshire and Felice to serve a term through the end of 2007.

Individuals named to the National Sponsors Committee include Debra Bourbeau, CPM, of New Hampshire; David Brown, CPM, of Oklahoma; Shirley Hollis, CPM, of Kansas, Joyce Smith, CPM, of Oklahoma; and Danny Weiss, CPM, of the District of Columbia. The new committee will be guided by Robinil H. Jameson, CPM, of Kentucky, the AACPM Member at Large for Member Affairs.

In their first effort, the Committee recommended the Board consider offering The Public Manager magazine as part of the AACPM membership benefit package. Danny Weiss successfully negotiated a reduced subscription rate for the AACPM, and the Board of Directors has agreed to offer this as a pilot effort in 2007. AACPM members will be surveyed later in the year to determine if this is an offering that benefits them and should be continued beyond 2007.

The National Sponsors Committee will be investigating a number of potential areas and items that could be included in an AACPM membership package, including reduced fees for computer hardware and software purchases, potential travel savings, reductions in other professional services or publications, and the like. Currently, AACPM members can receive a reduced membership fee to join the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). News of additional membership benefits will appear in future issues of The CPM Connection.

“We believe that a strong and focused effort in this area can result in a significant return on investment for both our member Societies and the Academy. Any membership benefit the Academy can develop will automatically become a benefit of membership to a local society as we are indelibly linked together,” AACPM President Herman said. “For the four years I have been on the Academy Board, the topic of improved member benefits has been discussed. As a Board, we are extremely pleased to be able to move forward and begin to put some meat on the bone.”

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