Member service alignment FAQs

• What is Member Service Alignment?

Member Service Alignment is a plan to bring components across each state together in collaboration, with the goal of ensuring that all AIA members receive the services they have a right to expect from the AIA.

• What is meant by “Core Member Services?”

Core Member Services are basic deliverables—categorized into seven service areas--which all members have a right to expect from the AIA component network. AIA national, state and local components all have a role to play in delivering specific services designed to elevate public awareness, advocate for the profession, communicate with members, provide educational opportunities, maintain membership and manage their operations, finances and governance.

• Who exactly delivers all of these Core Member Services?

Components determine who within the boundaries of their states will deliver each Core Member Service. Many components already deliver all of these services and more, while others will need to partner with other components in their state to do so.

• Why do components have to coordinate delivery of Core Member Services?

The purpose of statewide coordination is to provide a valuable and consistent experience for all AIA members.

• How do a state’s components work together to address service gaps or overlaps?

Components throughout each state will participate jointly to develop a Member Service Agreement. These agreements will identify who will deliver each specific Core Member Service to that state’s members and will direct the funding appropriately.

• How will you know whether Core Member Services are being delivered?

An accreditation process will be used to verify that Core Member Services are being delivered. Each of the seven service areas has at least one way to demonstrate success in that area. Documentation that the particular service is being delivered varies by the nature of the activity but is specified in the application.

• How and when does a component apply for accreditation?

Components that meet Core Member Services will be accredited for three years. Components that exceed Core Member Services will be accredited for five years.

• What if a component cannot show that it provides the Core Member Service to its members?

That component will not be awarded accreditation. That component will be given one year to improve its services and will be offered guidance from AIA National for that purpose.

• May a component appeal if it is denied accreditation?

A component that is denied accreditation will have 90 days to appeal to the Institute Secretary. The Secretary will review the file and invite input from the component. The Secretary will specify any areas of Core Member Services which have not yet been met. The Secretary’s decision will be final.

• What happens to components that don’t get accredited?

Components will have one year after receiving a denial of accreditation (and the conclusion of any appeals) to fill the specified gaps in their services and reapply. They have the option of working on their own or in coordination with another component in their state to address any shortfalls identified. After that year, if the accreditation team finds that Core Member Services are still not met, the Institute Secretary will direct the component to begin transitioning into an alternate structure and engage with a partner component within their state to ensure Core Member Services are delivered to their members. Members will be reassigned by the Secretary accordingly.

• How will accreditation affect components that use Association Management Companies (AMCs) to staff their operations?

In fairness to members, components using AMCs must provide the same services as other components. If any Core Member Service is not part of the current AMC

scope of work, the applicable agreement or contract may be revised to cover all Core Member Services. Or, any component using an AMC may partner with another component in their state to deliver one or more Core Member Services and record this plan in the statewide Member Service Agreement.

• How are Core Member Services connected to my component’s funding from National?

Going forward, funding will be based on how components bring value to AIA members by providing Core Member Services. Funds will be allocated directly to components according to the number of members in each state and according to  a collective state agreement. This new funding distribution model will phase in gradually over five years, starting in 2016. Funds will be allocated by state on the basis of membership measured on December 31 of each year. Components within each state will decide collectively how to apply these funds.

• What do a state’s components have to do to get their funding?

To ensure that all of a state’s members are receiving Core Member Services, each component has the opportunity to self-assess its operations. Then all of the state’s components need to hold statewide leadership conversations, to share information about any gaps and overlaps in service that may exist which might be addressed in partnership. This is also the opportunity to discuss how resources should be allocated. Each state’s member service agreement must outline how the funds will be applied to each component within the state. Each component’s president, president-elect and executive director (if any) must sign the agreement.

• Will we get to see what is happening to the revenue share at the other components in my state?

In order to ensure that statewide conversations are transparent and productive, each component must be prepared to share its current year revenue share information with fellow components within their states.

• If my component can’t send people to the CACE Annual Meeting or Grassroots, do we still get that funding?

The funding is intended to support leadership and operational training, and we encourage components to take advantage of it. Components must send an executive director to the CACE Annual Meeting in order to receive the $1000 stipend to defray their expenses. Components that do not send staff or leaders to Grassroots will not benefit from receiving the complimentary conference registration.

• When are Member Services Agreements due to AIA National?

December 31, 2015.

• What happens to components that do not sign the Member Service Agreement?

In such cases, support will be available to assist components in coming to a state- wide agreement. Only after all of a state’s components sign a statewide agreement can funds be disbursed.

• Some components have fewer than 100 members. What happens to them?

The AIA Board has agreed that no new domestic components will be created unless there are at least 100 members. However, existing components with fewer than 100 members that do fulfill Core Member Services may continue as they are.

• Where did the 100 member threshold come from?

The number was developed to ensure components are large enough to deliver meaningful and consistent service to their members. It was also chosen because it is rare for any state to have fewer than 100 members, and access to a statewide component should be guaranteed to every member.

• Why isn’t a state Political Action Committee (PAC) a required Core Member Service?

While PACs perform a very important mission for the AIA, some state laws present barriers to PAC activity. Therefore, that is not a Core Member Service requirement and is, therefore, optional. Assuming all other Core Member Services are met, PAC activity is one element among many that may put a state in consideration for exceeding Core Member Services requirements and thereby grant them a five-year accreditation term.