Neil J. Weissman, MD, FASE

Are you a member of your church, temple, mosque, or community center? What about membership to Costco, Sam’s Club, or Price Club? Do you belong to your school’s alumni association? I counted it up and am a member of almost 20 different organizations! There was a time I enjoyed “collecting the cards” and marveled at their diversity.

All of this got me to think more about why we join organizations, clubs, or other “member only” associations. Here is how I categorize it in my mind:

• 1.
  

  Access to services or products—sometimes we can only get certain services or products through membership. This is the typical scenario for many big-box stores and on-line purchases. We are willing to pay a nominal annual charge to get something we otherwise could not or to get it at a discount.

  
  
• 2.
  

  Participation in a sector of your community, such as a religious home or community center. This membership can be based on a spiritual and/or social bond and for many, is an extension of the family in which one belongs. It is part of the person’s identity.

  
  
• 3.
  

  Membership for a good cause—many of us belong to organizations in which together we can affect change that is difficult or impossible alone. These can be community–based (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs), around a particular activity (a member of a museum or zoo) or seeded in philanthropy (a member of the United Way).

  
  
• 4.
  

  Like-mindedness—sometimes we join organizations with like–minded people with whom we share an interest (e.g., sports or vocational club), a past connection (school alumni association), or a socioeconomic or ethnic connection.

  
  
• 5.
  

  Prestige—sometimes membership in an organization is so selective that merely obtaining membership conveys an expertise, achievement, and/or status in the community.

  
  
• 6.
  

  Special privileges—there are some organizations that convey special privileges and/or access but are more than just a “fee for service” as described above. Often the member needs to meet certain criteria, such as countries that are members of the European Union and get to use the euro and open their borders to other EU members.

  
  
• 7.
  

  Networking—sometimes we decide to join an organization because of the other people that have already joined. By becoming a member, we therefore gain access to meet these other people and network within a specialized and/or specific group.

I share these thoughts on membership because it is that time of year again at ASE to renew your ASE membership. As you do so, I would ask you to reflect on how many of the above categories you are covering. For me, ASE membership “checks” all the boxes. I know that by being a member, I am part of a prestigious group of international experts in cardiovascular ultrasound, working together for a greater cause (from education to quality to philanthropic missions), and achieving things that I could not alone (setting new standards and guidelines and granting research awards that help create the future of cardiovascular imaging). It also gives me an opportunity to be part of a community where I get to meet and network with professional friends and new collaborators. Furthermore, by obtaining FASE, I have distinguished myself as a recognized expert in cardiovascular ultrasound. Finally, my ASE membership gives me access to echo products that I use every day in the lab and that advance my knowledge.

Here are some specific things to also know as you renew your ASE membership:

• •
  

  Renewing early ensures you do not miss any issues of JASE , and you continue to get access to the online platform that now has supplemental material like moving images that accompany some articles. The JASE iPad app has been updated to simulate the journal better. So whether you get JASE in print or online, you are accessing a resource our members rate as “superior.”

  
  
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  The echo community relies on ASE’s Guideline and Standards that are published here in JASE. Free webinars are hosted by the lead author of each ASE guideline for ASE members, giving you the opportunity to learn the most important points from each new guideline direct from the author. Your membership will ensure that you continue to get this valuable timesaving benefit.

  
  
• •
  

  The top reason new members join ASE is to access JASE and because they feel it is important to join a professional society. ASE provides you with ways to enhance your career and profession with online education and great networking and sharing platforms like Connect@ASE with a rich image library and robust discussion groups. ASE is big enough to make a difference in the field but small enough to be a personal membership experience.

  
  
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  ASE protects the value of echo by being your representative on the Hill and providing you with action items and alerts when needed. Your membership makes our voice for echo stronger, and we can’t do the work without your help. We are grateful for your continued support!

  
  
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  Are you ready to distinguish yourself with the FASE designation? Only ASE members are eligible for this prestigious designation.

  
  
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  As a member, you have access to free CME activities online. Our digital library is extensive. There are free options and hosts of talks from the leaders in the field.

So please take a moment and go online and renew your membership now ( http://asecho.org/renew/ ). ASE has a special 40 ^th anniversary gift for those who renew by December 15, 2014—an ASE calendar that will be full of some of our members’ best echo images!