Letter from ASAE's AMC Section chair.

It's no secret that successful associations, like successful businesses, work smart. They use their scarce resources of time, money, and talent carefully. They have clear, well-articulated goats and missions, and they keep a close eye on the bottom line--both in terms of their money and in terms of their members' satisfaction. It is this goal of working smart that has led many association leaders to turn to association management companies to bring value, professionalism, and success to their organizations.

AMCs, as they are known, bring their association clients a level of expertise and experience that many cannot otherwise afford. Staffed by professionals in all areas of association work-strategic planning, board governance, finance and budgeting, meeting planning, communication, member services, and so forth--AMCs can offer their clients what they need when they need it. This flexibility is critical as associations endeavor to adapt to changing priorities, budgets, and member needs. Doing more with less is a fact of life in the association world. Associations must find ways to increase value and effectiveness while reducing costs, waste, and risk.

Volunteer leaders are the mainstay of virtually every association, and they must continue in this role. But volunteer boards and committees have come to recognize that they need responsive and responsible business partners to help them achieve success. For many associations, an AMC is that partner, bringing the high level of professionalism and expertise the association deserves. According to D&B (formerly Dun & Bradstreet), the practice of contracting out professional services is growing at a rate of 15 percent per year. The Outsourcing Institute's Fifth Year Outsourcing Index noted that the primary reason was to "improve company focus." ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT'S Outsourcing Survey, published in the February 2000 issue, shared similar attitudes, as "gain access to expertise" and "focus on core activities" became the top two reasons associations outsource.

Currently 527 AMCs are represented with members in the American Society of Association Executives and/or the International Association of Association Management Companies. The companies are located in 47 states and five countries and serve more than 3,000 clients. Roughly 40 percent of these AMCs started business since 1990, 25 percent since 1995, according to the AMCinstitute in a survey conducted this past fall. These numbers speak for themselves. The AMC business is growing and the reason is simple--we're good at what we do and our clients know it.

Working smart gets results. AMCs prove this every day in the work we do for our association clients. The companies listed in this directory can help your association achieve its goals and face a financially brighter future. Take a look-it's one of the smartest things you can do.

Beth W. Palys, CAE, ASAE 2003-2004 AMC Section chair, is president of Management Solutions Plus, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, an ASAE AMC Charter Accredited company. E-mail:[e-mail].