Young Association Professionals (YAP) yapstar.org

A YAP case study

Imagine being able to give all of your members exactly what they need, exactly when they need it. Despite our aspirations as association execs, it's an impossible feat. And yet, your members now have the capacity to self-organize and fulfill many of their own needs, with or without you. Here is a case study example.

Back in January, a small group of active ASAE & The Center young professionals found ourselves ahead of the curve on Facebook. As the association was strategizing about how to define a presence on Facebook, we decided to self-form a group that would be entirely open, uncensored and inclusive. YAP (Young Association Professionals) was born. With no budget and using only free web tools, YAP has grown from a group of 5 to a group of well over 200. We have a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Zazzle, Twitter, FriendFeed and a fledgling group on Flickr. We also have our own website, www.yapstar.org on the CollectiveX platform, and our first official sponsor, FreshBooks.

Why was YAP necessary? ASAE & The Center is engaged in vitally important work for the association industry. But the same structure that makes the association so effective for other work, serves as a barrier against engaging young professionals. This is a group that doesn't understand why missing the deadline to sign up for a committee would keep them from serving. A group that doesn't have the authority to use the business AMEX to pay their own membership dues. A group that has the capacity to connect just as meaningfully at an 80s Dance Party as at a sponsored cocktail reception. A group that is a little shy when attending an ASAE conference for the first time. For YAPers, it just makes sense to belong to a group built by young association professionals, for young association professionals--with no rules or structures to prevent them from applying their leadership skills. How does YAP reinforce membership in ASAE & The Center? Here are just a few ways...

• A lot of important committee work can be done outside the meeting room, in "hallway conversations" and at happy hours. And YAP provides those social events where ASAE members gather. When YAPstars get together we talk about what's going on at ASAE.
  
• Many YAP events are in conjunction with ASAE conferences, so we actively encourage YAPstars to register for those conferences. And YAPstars feel more comfortable going when they know other YAPstars are in the crowd.
  
• We also give YAPstars tips for how to convince their association to cover their membership dues for ASAE.
  
• Several YAP members are ASAE & The Center staffers. They've done a great job of participating and being respectful of everything YAP stands for.
  
• Many of the ASAE Young Professionals Committee members are also providing leadership to YAP.

Here are a few observations from YAP members.
"I hear more about the great work that ASAE is doing from YAP than I do from ASAE."
Scott Sherin, Memphis, TN

"I need both. YAP makes it so easy to get engaged. And ASAE is a great resource for my career development."
Lauren Wolfe, Arlington, VA

"When YAP came around, it was like a huge light bulb. YAP provided the opportunity for me to network with my peers in a format I'm comfortable with. And the relationships I've made there help me feel more welcome at ASAE events, as well."
Jennifer Gastelum, San Diego, CA

"As a Young Professionals Committee member, I know that YAP can do the things we can't...like host a dance party. And yet, ASAE can do things YAP can't, like give young professionals a seat at the table. There's definitely symbiosis there."
Bob Wolfe, Baltimore, MD

The lesson here is to tread lightly. Every situation is different, but ultimately, a self-formed group is fulfilling a need that your association is not. It's important to understand the reasons and be respectful of the new group. In the case of YAP and ASAE & The Center, a little separation is creating value for both groups.