Sharing the Power of Associations Every Industry. Every State Sharing the Power of Associations Every Industry. Every State. Every Day. Associations Strengthen America. The Benefits for You and Your Organization in Helping Tell our Industry’s Powerful Story

The Importance of the Power of A Educate the administration, Congress, the public and other stakeholders how associations make the country stronger and American lives better. Demonstrate through the power of our community’s expertise, size, reach and scope, how we contribute to positive change every day. Represent our entire industry to let lawmakers know how policies impact the valuable work we do and how we can help them shape more impactful policy. Help associations and association professionals understand the power of associations and use this brand to their benefit.

What is the Power of A? The Power of A is an industry brand, positioning the entire association community as essential to strengthening America. Through the Power of A, we reach policymakers, opinion leaders, the media and even our members of our own industry to ensure our audiences know all of the benefits we offer society. Our goal is for all associations to most effectively communicate our messages to their own audiences and constituents. Through the Power of A, we share stories of how we strengthen lives, standards, the workforce and the economy. ThePowerOfA.org (our website) houses resources for you to employ, including research, videos, advocacy talking points, and other shareable materials that we all can use to support our efforts.

POWER OF A 2017 MESSAGE FRAMEWO 12/12/16 .3.16 THROUGH OUR POWER TO BUILD A STRONGER ECONOMY America’s associations fuel the nation’s economy through industrial development, product and service innovation and through facilitating domestic and international business. THROUGH OUR POWER TO STRENGTHEN LIVES There is no other segment of society that improves lives like associations do every day - from creating industry standards of quality and safety, to providing disaster relief, to offering expertise that creates better policy – and so much more. THROUGH OUR POWER TO ENHANCE SKILLS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY Associations dedicate millions to advance workers’ job skills and create new employment opportunities for all Americans across virtually every industry sector. ASSOCIATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A STRONGER AMERICA AND WORLD. THROUGH OUR POWER TO IMPROVE STRUCTURES & SYSTEMS At every turn, associations implement programs and impact policies that strengthen America’s safety and security - on roadways, waterways, jobsites, the Internet and everywhere in-between. 2017 Messaging Framework: Our Story

Every Industry. Every State. Every Day. 2017 Thunderclap Image (social media sharing)

How ASAE Collects and Shares Your Work Online at ThePowerOfA.org Through social media During American Association Days on Capitol Hill Through the Power of A Awards and at the Summit Awards Dinner in Washington In media such as Politico and CQ Roll Call At association industry events

Examples of Sharing

Power of A Research Latest Data reflects the economic and social impact associations make as a collective industry. Per the IRS, in 2013 there were 66,985 trade and professional associations and 1,052,495 charitable and philanthropic groups in the U.S. During the 2013 fiscal year, there were 1, 524 new applications for 501(c)(6) status and 45,289 for 501(c)(3) status filed with the IRS. The vast majority were approved.

Power of A Research: Employment and Wages Trade and professional associations employed more than 1.3 million people in 2013, with total annual wages of nearly $51 billion. States with the highest membership employment were California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Florida. If Washington, DC, was a state, the metropolitan area would rank third with more than 89,000 employees.

Power of A Research: Revenue and Assets Trade and professional associations generated $142 billion in revenue in 2013, up 13.8 percent over the last five years. Associations hold an estimated $306 billion in assets.

Power of A Research: Other Benefits Nearly 63 million Americans volunteered through a membership organization in 2013, totaling 7.7 billion hours of service with a value of nearly $173 billion. Associations represent a major piece of the meetings and convention industry in the U.S., supporting 1.8 million jobs and $280 billion in direct spending by attendees. 57 million adults take formal work-related courses or training each year, and more than 69 percent receive their training from a private business or professional association.

How You Can Participate Visit www.thepowerofa.org/share where you’ll learn how to become a Power of A Ambassador and can download logos and other materials including these ads which you can place on your website to link to www.thepowerofa.org

How You Can Participate Join us on American Associations Day to personally visit Capitol Hill to reinforce the Power of Associations. Follow and engage with The Power of A (@Power_of_A) on Twitter. Download the PowerPoint presentation, newsletter article and other materials at www.thepowerofa.org/toolkit, and share them with your colleagues.

Questions or Suggestions? Contact ASAE Public Policy at (202) 626-2703 or by email at publicpolicy@asaecenter.org or http://www.thepowerofa.org/contact-us/