MSHA Announces Membership Dues Increase for 2010

Dec. 29, 2009 – Thank you for your support of the profession through your annual MSHA membership. Your membership demonstrates your commitment to MSHA’s mission to serve and advocate for our professions and the clients we serve.

The Executive Council has spent the past year analyzing the processes of our association as well as the fiscal soundness of our organization. Due to continued increases in expenses to operate the association and declining revenue from the current economic climate, MSHA is facing a budget loss for 2009 and projecting a budget loss for 2010. We have identified areas in which expenses can be decreased and have established goals to increase revenue (see MSHA’s strategic plan at www.msha.net/bylaws.asp). In addition, it has become apparent that we need to increase our annual dues revenue to continue to provide our current level of service and allow for potential growth of the association.

After careful consideration of 2009 revenues and a review of the 2010 budget projections, the Policy Council and Executive Council of MSHA determined a need to raise the MSHA member dues by $10 annually for all membership categories except for student members. This is the first dues increase since 2001 and is consistent with other regional state associations (Iowa and Wisconsin) offering similar benefits and services.

We realize in this economic climate that a dues increase may be difficult for some members and, as a result, we have created a new incentive program to reward continued MSHA membership. Current regular or student members may recruit a new member at the same membership level. The renewing member and new member will both receive a 50% discount in dues for that membership year. (A new member is defined as someone who has not been a MSHA member in the past five years. This offer does not apply to communication sciences and disorders faculty who are recruiting current students.)

Member benefits, details about the incentive program, and links to the new membership application and renewal forms may be found on the MSHA website at www.msha.net/membership.asp.

Your continued support of the work of the association is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Melanie Theis
2009 President
Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association