Integrating AQP
Living Communities Model Questions and
Answers
Why is ASQ implementing a new membership
model?
A new membership model designed
to provide choice, flexibility, and to open the doors
of membership to all interested in the practice
and/or profession of quality was initiated at the
request of ASQ’s board of directors. The Living
Community Model approach advances ASQ’s vision
as the “community of choice for everyone who
seeks quality technology, concepts, or tools to
improve themselves and their world.”
The Living Community Model offers more categories,
flexible options, new and enhanced benefits, and
varied dues. The model will continue to be enhanced,
based on member needs and feedback, to offer more
opportunities for individual and organizational
membership. Plans call for the model to be
implemented in three phases initially, beginning with
Phase 1 this year and continuing over the next three
years.
What new membership opportunities are
available?
The new membership
categories for Phase 1 are Forum/Division and
Associate. Also offered are an enhanced Regular
membership, which is based on ASQ’s current
Regular membership type and a Student category.
ASQ’s new Regular membership category includes
the Fellow and Senior grades. Phase 1 focuses
primarily on individual categories. Phase 2 will add
more benefits to these categories and will offer
various options for group, organization, and
corporation memberships and sponsorships.
What are Forums/Divisions and how will
they be developed?
The Forum/Division
membership is intended to appeal to those individuals
who have an interest in quality that is focused
within a specific industry or topic. Forum/Division
membership provides membership and benefit access
primarily through an online environment, although
face-to-face and networking opportunities will be
available to further engage this member.
On July 1, 2004, AQP will become the Teamwork and
Participation Forum. Current ASQ Divisions and
Interest Groups also are included in the
Forums/Divisions options.
What will members receive as a result of
the new model?
There are many new and
enhanced benefits in Phase 1 of the model, and more
are already planned for availability in the next
year. These benefits are based on research on current
and prospective members’ needs, as well as
benchmarking against other professional association
offerings. They are designed to enhance the value and
membership experience significantly, in both the
short and long term. Phase 1 benefits include:
- Electronic “bundles” of
topic-specific articles delivered to each Regular
member online via www.asq.org .
- Tools and strategies for all members to prove
the economic case for quality.
- Tools and strategies to help all members
enhance the image of the quality professional.
- Sustained public campaigns to increase the
awareness and image of ASQ.
- Quality News Today, a worldwide news
service available to various member
categories.
- One Forum/Division with the Regular member base
package.
- Kinko’s 15% discount card.
- Leisure and affinity benefits, including elder
care and life line screening options, personal
lines of insurance, identify-theft protection, and
MBNA World Points for gift certificates and
merchandise.
What benefits are received with each
category of membership?
An
easy-to-understand chart of benefits (see above)
links benefits with each category of membership.
What other benefits are under
consideration for future phases?
Benefits for Phase 2 are planned to include, but are
not limited to, the following list (subject to
approval by the board of directors).
Forum/Division Member Benefit
Additions:
- Article bundles for each industry and
topic-specific Forum/Division.
- Forum/Division-specific discussion
boards.
- Moderated chats for Forums/Divisions related
to specific topic or industry and determined by
member need.
- Enhanced quality dictionary.
Associate Member Benefit
Additions:
- Complimentary Quality Information Center
research.
- Enhanced quality dictionary.
Regular Member Benefit
Additions:
- Complimentary Quality Information Center
research searches and information.
- Enhanced quality dictionary.
- Enhanced, customized article bundles.
- New Forums/Divisions.
Student Member Benefit
Additions:
- Enhanced quality dictionary.
- Resume-building services.
- Career path planning information and
services.
What is the dues structure for the new
membership categories?
Forum/Division
members will pay $29 in annual dues, and Associate
memberships will be $69 per year. Current Regular ASQ
members may renew their memberships for $119 with an
immediate $10 individual rebate for the fiscal year
2005 only. New Regular members will pay $119 in
annual dues with no rebate, and Students will pay $25
each year.
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