Challenge: The association’s printed annual report was historically published more than a year after the close of each fiscal year. By the time of publication, the contents were of little use for the members and contained an outdated membership directory, committee reports, and audited financial report.

Solution: With RRR Association’s recommendation, the President agreed at the end of his term to reformat the annual report and eliminate the membership directory from the publication and instead, provide an up to date directory on the association’s website. Committee annual reports were solicited immediately with a deadline of one week after the closing of the association’s year. All other materials were collected and filed electronically during the year. Ultimately, the book format was replaced by a simpler, faster, and less costly format, in addition to being published online.

Result: The first formatted association’s annual report was published within 90 days of the association year end, making it timely and relevant to new members.

Challenge: An association suffered from low member participation, with most of the work done by the President and the Executive Office.

Solution: Committees were created and assigned missions and annual objectives. Committee volunteers were requested, chairs were nominated, and the Executive Office was authorized to support the committees with the administrative aspects of their work. The President also appointed a Board Liaison to each committee to report to the Board on progress and provide guidance, as needed.

Result: With each committee meeting, the committees became more independent, the members became more engaged, and the association’s agenda advanced. Networking and collegiality among the members also improved. In addition, there was greater interest in undertaking leadership positions in the association. The Board continues to be more involved in the activities of the association.

Challenge: A client did not know its financial status until the bank statement arrived, which was often too late for reporting at the Board of Directors and Annual Membership meetings. Part of the issue arose from keeping two sets of books – one by the Treasurer and one by a third-party accountant. The client was also unaware that it was not in compliance with its own Bylaws, which required an independent annual audit and report.

Solution: In collaboration with a new Treasurer, RRR Associations secured online accounting software and online banking access so the Treasurer and Executive Office could access, run reports, and conduct quality control reviews from the same system. The processing of deposits and payments was streamlined to save time and overnight delivery costs of sending checks between the Treasurer and Executive Office. Finally, the administrative bookkeeping function was assigned to the Executive Office and a CPA was retained to conduct an independent audit and deliver the report at the Annual Meeting.

Result: Financial clarity was achieved by improving bookkeeping and accounting processes and the association is in full compliance with its Bylaws.

Challenge: The economic downfall not only affected the job market, but also association memberships and renewals. Moreover, the outdated membership database limited new member recruitment.

Solution: RRR Associations evaluated their existing marketing tools and the membership database. After identifying the problems, the objective was to create and implement a comprehensive marketing plan to increase the membership rate through name recognition. Thorough research facilitated expansion of the database and social media was used to publicize the association’s activities, which promoted name recognition. RRR Associations also revised and upgraded all visual aids for marketing purposes.

Result: The association’s marketing expenses were kept to a minimum by using social networks to promote its brand, which in turn, boosted membership rate.

Challenge: In reviewing its membership demographics and retention, this client realized it had been modestly, but not insignificantly, impacted during the economic downturn of 2009. There were membership losses related to retirements and job losses, and few younger and new lawyers were joining the association. Over the same time period, the association had not conducted a membership campaign or actively promoted membership.

Solution: RRR Associations launched a membership campaign and implemented a plan that would reach and resonate with young lawyers and law students. The program included expanding the association’s contacts and member prospects lists, revising and updating marketing graphics, adding young lawyer programs and networking events, and incorporating social media into the organization’s regular and continuing communication formats.

Result: The response to programming has been rewarding and there has been in increase in membership without taxing the association’s marketing budget. The association continues to refine its communications with particular emphasis on electronic and social media.

Challenge: RRR Associations was retained by an organization to coordinate and assist in the planning of their annual event. The organization’s previous management did not keep records of the annual event procedures, historical data, materials on past seminars, and marketing and attendee lists. Under the previous organization, financials were handled by several different parties which made bookkeeping data redundant and susceptible to errors.

Solution: RRR Associations interviewed key members of the organization and supporting sponsors, then drafted a rough production schedule for their annual event. Areas for improvement were identified and techniques were introduced to simplify the planning process and reduce expenses. The organization’s website was redesigned to be more intuitive and visually appealing. An online payment system was also added to streamline event registrations. Social media accounts were created to promote the annual event online and a marketing campaign was launched to increase the organization’s visibility. Financial software was installed and online banking access was established so that RRR Associations could conduct bookkeeping and accounting in-house.

Result: RRR Associations simplified the event planning process, streamlined registrations via online payments, and reduced unnecessary costs by delegating tasks in-house. The renewed efforts in marketing led to increased visibility and attendance, which in turn led to greater profits. Financial clarity was also achieved by delegating bookkeeping and accounting processes in-house.

Challenge: An association’s website had poor navigation design which made information difficult to access and made registration for events challenging and inefficient.

Solution: RRR Associations redesigned the website and made it visually appealing, modern, intuitive, and easy to use. The incorporation of navigational tools and additional resources tabs allowed users to easily find information, register for upcoming events quickly, and pay for invoices online rather than mailing a paper form with check to the Executive Office. The website provided capability for designated firm coordinators to register multiple attendees for a program, process badges online, and streamlined event processing time.

Result: The new website increased the efficiency and accuracy of the registration and payment process. The association experienced fewer problems with missing registration forms, lost checks, and inaccurate badges. RRR Associations created a more user-friendly and informative site for this client that provides detailed information about the association’s history, latest news, and membership benefits.

Challenge: Much like the March of Dimes, which had to redefine its mission after the polio vaccine was discovered, this association client was faced with reinventing itself 15 years after it was founded. Over the years, the organization’s raison d’être became less pivotal and some members left the group while others recognized that they had broader interests in common. The remaining group was smaller and struggling with how to reorganize and refocus.

Solution: RRR Associations was asked to identify and articulate the core objectives of the remaining organization and prepare a strategic plan that would allow the association to serve the interests of its members and attract new members. After (i) conducting a membership survey, part by phone interviews and to a larger group online, (ii) interviews with past members, and (iii) an external factors analysis, including assessment of the roles and services of similar organizations, RRR Associations was able to distill needs and opportunities for the association.

Result: RRR Associations prepared a strategic plan for the association with recommendations to attract new members and increase the benefits for its current membership. The implementation of the plan has led to more engaged membership with a renewed sense of purpose.

Challenge: RRR Associations was retained to be the full-service management company for an association with over 1,300 members, and to design a sophisticated, more efficient approach to its operations with updated electronic capabilities. The system developed by their former management firm was very limited, consisting of a single spreadsheet containing members and dues payments, with no integration for events, member history, committees, or financial management.

Solution: Within 3 months, RRR Associations delivered reports and recommendations to the Board of Directors on integrated association management software systems that would maintain one source for managing membership, dues and committee records, program attendance and payments, as well as creating and maintaining a current online membership directory. Before the end of the first year, the new association software was customized, populated, and fully functioning. As part of the integrated software, the newly designed website has real time current membership directory, committees’ directory, and association activities calendar.

Result: As a result of the new system, dues invoices were generated easily and the new online payment system resulted in earlier dues collections. Membership communications and program announcements are now sent directly from the central database without the delay or expense of a third-party web host. Program registrations are processed and paid online, and changes to the website are uploaded easily and immediately.