400 more reasons to join TEI: TEI board adopts membership incentive.

For the first time in its history, Tax Executive Institute has reduced its dues and waived its initiation fee. From now until June 30, 2006, qualifying tax executives can purchase a paid-up membership in the pre-eminent association of business tax professionals in the world through June 30, 2007, for only $100. Normally, first-time members would pay $300 to join for the remainder of 2005-2006, and then pay $200 in dues for 2006-2007. Thus, this special incentive program saves new members $400!

One hundred dollars is an incredibly low price for the networking, education, and advocacy that comes with membership in TEI. Indeed, since registration fees for non-members at all TEI educational programs are usually $100 more than the member fee, joining will pay for itself after just one meeting. What's more, if a tax executive is already planning on attending the Institute's 2006 Midyear Conference in Washington (or our Annual Conference next fall in Scottsdale), he or she will receive a double return by combining the membership incentive with the $200 discount provided to members attending their first conference.

Why is TEI doing this? In announcing the membership incentive, TEI President Michael Boyle explained:

"Sometimes when a store has a sale, it's a sign of lagging sales or other trouble. That's absolutely not the case here. TEI's membership has never been higher, even though companies remain under pressure to cut staff and costs. In North America, Europe, and Asia, our meetings are drawing strong crowds and garnering excellent ratings, as they have for more than 60 years. And our financial condition is amazingly solid.

"No, the Board of Directors decided to act not out of weakness, but strength. We want to reach out to smaller or mid-size companies that have never been represented in TEI or to larger companies that never had more than one or two members.

"TEI's dues are normally a bargain--barely 50 cents a day--one of the best deals in town. But we've received feedback that the $200 dues, especially combined with our $200 initiation fee, might be a barrier to some tax executives (especially those who have not been exposed to our wonderful programs). By dramatically reducing the cost of joining--and giving even the nominal $100 cost back in terms of a member discount at the first program they attend--we hope to entice a large number of tax professionals to 'give us a try.' We're confident that if they do, they'll renew their membership.

"What does TEI gain if the incentive program is a success? New members to be sure, but not just to count but to contribute. The tax system is facing a large number of challenges, and TEI wants to increase its membership so it can be a better, stronger, more representative voice for the business community. Whether the issue is Tax Reform or Uncertain Tax Positions or the unrelenting demands of Sarbanes-Oxley, tax executives can learn from one another, support one another, and work with one another to forge solutions that improve the tax system, aid economic growth, and enhance our working environment."

For more information about the membership incentive, including a user-friendly FAQ, please visit www. tei.org. Tax executives applying online will have the discount applied when they check out.