As you might already know, there’s been a conversation going around the association blogosphere lately about whether the membership model of old is already dead, in the process of dying or still evolving.

The Sept. 15 #assnchat on Twitter was centered around the main problem facing associations, and participants (including myself) began debating about members’ engagement levels and why people join associations. We concluded there are two types of members: the “What’s in it for me” ones and the “What can we do together?” ones.

What’s in it for me? These members only join for fringe benefits (insurance, exclusive content), not necessarily to network or engage with others. They’re probably often lurking on the association’s Web site, not actively participating. Also called “drive-by” members, they need more of a push to start interacting.

What can we do together? These members not only have ideas, but actively discuss and implement them. They engage and interact with others. They’re the thought-shift leaders and the ones pushing for change within the association.

Jeff De Cagna pointed out there will always be drive-by members as long as associations continue to “operate with drive-by structures, systems and processes.” I agree, but I don’t think a shift to more engaging operations will happen overnight.

A community (whether it’s online or off) can’t just made be made up of lurkers. Several people — not just one innovator — have to start the drive to change the mindset. There must be people willing to step up, engage and drive the conversation.

Cynthia D’Amour said, “Take charge person [is] just [the] first step. Happy active participants are the gold.” There are a variety of ways associations can engage people, but without participants (who are both active and happy), efforts are futile.

I don’t know if social media is the answer or not, but I do know social media is making it easier for like-minded people to group together, whether through an association or not. And unfortunately, the idea that only young people use social media still exists, but I think (and hope) it’s diminishing. Social media should definitely factor into the equation, but associations also shouldn’t rely solely on (relatively) unstable tools to engage their members.

Do you interact or lurk? How come?

The transcript for the 9/15 #assnchat can be found here.