As the publishers of Association News magazine, we’re constantly touting the value of membership in associations. The latest research report from The William E. Smith Institute for Association Research indicates that, on average, association members earn higher salaries, like their jobs more and are happier people than those who do not join associations.

While the findings initially seem to read like a member recruitment brochure, the report actually interprets the data as indicating reverse causation. It’s not association membership that makes a person successful. It’s being successful that leads a person to join an association. Regardless, the study’s greatest value may be in helping association executives understand what it is high-quality prospective members are looking for when they join an association. Click here to receive a copy of the complete report.