1. IFMS-2GM Presentation 2-4 November 2011, China
Meteorological Society Membership
Benefits
Workneh Degefu, President ETMS

2. Introduction
During IFMS-GM1, participants expressed a number of challenges facing meteorological societies. Among these, one that was of concern was the difficulty to recruit additional members and to retain existing ones.
IFMS-GM1 felt that this problem may be associated with membership benefits and requested me to lead an effort and present some points for discussion at IFMS-GM2 on this subject.
This presentation provides examples of membership benefits from 3 meteorological societies and potential benefits of membership to IFMS inorder to generate discussions at this Forum.
Some conclusions and recommendations are also drawn from this survey.

3. UK Royal Meteorological Society Membership Benefits
Monthly magazine Weather FREE
Members’ Handbook FREE
Society pin badge, pad and pen FREE
Cloud identification chart FREE
Many opportunities to come together and network with others in the meteorological community whether academics, practitioners or enthusiasts
Reduced fees at Society conferences (25% members, 50% student members)
Reduced costs on items purchased at the Society’s online shop
Discount on Society journals
Apply for grants and fellowships

4. Discount on all Wiley-Blackwell books (15% on popular interest reference books or 20% on academic publications sold through Society website)
10% Discount on online Legal Services
Those elected to Fellowship are also entitled to:
use the title Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (FRMetS) to signify professional competence
become eligible for election as Officers of the Society
become eligible to apply for accreditation as Chartered Meteorologists

5. American Meteorological Society (AMS) Full Membership Benefits
Complimentary subscription to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS)
Society journals at greatly reduced subscription rates
Access to a Personalized Online Library (POL)  .
Special member rate for Weatherwise magazine
Deep discounts on new and classic titles in the collection of AMS Books.
Discounted registration fees for AMS annual and specialty meetings .
Special Member privileges on our new AMS Online Career Center
Discounted member rates for continuing education programs
Access to information for “Members Only”  .

6. AMS Associate Member and K-12 Teacher Benefits
Participation in Society activities Vote in Society elections, volunteer for an AMS board or committee, and receive recognition through society awards, scholarships, and fellowships
Complimentary subscription to Weatherwise or the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) .
Society journals at greatly reduced subscription rates
Access to a Personalized Online Library (POL) 
Deep discounts on new and classic titles in the collection of AMS Books.
Discounted registration fees for AMS annual and specialty meetings .
Special Member privileges on our new AMS Online Career Center

7. AMS Student Membership Benefits
Discounted member rates for continuing education programs
Access to information for “Members Only”
Complimentary subscription to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS)
Society journals at greatly reduced subscription rates !
Access to a Personalized Online Library (POL) 
Eligibility for undergraduate scholarship and graduate fellowship awards, student travel grants to AMS meetings, and best paper awards at many conferences.
Special member rate for Weatherwise magazine
Deep discounts on new and classic titles in the collection of AMS Books.

8. Discounted registration fees for AMS annual and specialty meetings
Special Member privileges on our new AMS Online Career Center
Access to information for “Members Only”

9. AMS Associate Membership/Precollege Student Benefits
Complimentary subscription to Weatherwise or the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) .
Society journals at greatly reduced subscription rates
Deep discounts on new and classic titles in the collection of AMS Books.
Access to information for “Members Only”

10. Ethiopian Meteorological Society Membership Benefits
At this early stage of the Society’s establishment, ETMS is not in a position to provide all necessary assistance to members. However, attempt is being made to create awareness to potential donors that include NGOs, Universities and other Agencies; therefore, when the time is right, it is envisaged that ETMS could provide considerable assistance to students and researchers working in relevant areas of Meteorology, Hydrology and related scientific fields. At present members are categorized into 3 groups, namely, (i) researchers and those aspiring for advance studies, (ii) active professionals interested in promoting and improving their professional standing and (iii) retires not actively engaged in research or studies. the following benefits are provided to address the interests of each category as appropriate:

11. Free Newsletter ( all category )
Free for publishing research papers on ETMS Journal(JETMS) ( category (i) )
Complementary subscription to JETMS(all category)
Facilitate for researchers to enter into collaborative research efforts with others and assist them to obtain research grants and donations ( category (i) )
Encourage students to advance their studies through scholarships/fellowships ( category (i) )

12. Provide modest financial aid to selected deserving students to pursue higher studies in national institutions ( category (i) )
Encourage and assist for participation in national and international seminars, workshops and conferences ( all but mainly category (ii) )
Provide attestation letters which addresses specific interests of members ( all category )
Provide advice, guidance and other relevant information to address specific profession related issues and problems ( all Category )
Encourage social interactions among members through the organization of social events, trips, visits, etc.( all but mainly category (iii) )
Reduced menbership fees ( Category ( III ) )

13. IFMS Potenial Membership Benefits
Free Exchange of Society Bulletins among IFMS member Societies
Obtain Assistance in Establishing New Societies
Obtain Information on best practices for supporting the needs of societies in developing countries
Obtain guidance and advice from on managing the affairs of individual societies
Possibility for sharing education and outreach resources
Participation in member societies events

14. Opportunity for societies to enter into collaborative efforts for:
Carrying out joint research
Holding of joint conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.
Exchanging of expertise
Guidance and assistance for the provision of scholarships/fellowships from those IFMS members with well established training programmes and having the resources

15. Participation in IFMS Forums to:
- Share experience and to exchange knowledge, ideas and resources
- Benefit from the outcomes of the Forum on tackling common problems and challenges and on identifying opportunities.

16. Conclusions and Recommendation
The positive perception members form on the benefits of society membership plays a decisive role in attracting new members and sustaining existing ones.
Society members’ benefits should be clearly spelt out emphasizing the benefits for each category of members.
Effective awareness creation mechanisms should be established to popularize the benefits and advantages of society membership
It is recommended that similar benefits categorization scheme of ETMS be considered, as appropriate, particularly by young societies and by new societies to be established, to demonstrate to each member or potential member that there are tangible benefits to be obtained by joining meteorological societies.