Association -- It connotes people working together to achieve a common goal. That goal could be anything from improving your education, finding a new job, getting more business, increasing your visibility or simply expanding your network of support resources.

That works for me! I'm an association junkie. I learned very early in my career that belonging to an association can make or break you. So, if you haven't joined one now is the best time to start. For you independents out there, belonging to an association can get you great discounts on services you might not be able to afford otherwise. Or, membership can provide a way to showcase your services and products for a nominal investment.

There is an association for almost everything and it's important to assess which one can do you the most good. Just having your name in the directory is meaningless unless you utilize the resources and work as an active member. Active means participation of some kind -- not just sitting on the sidelines waiting for something to happen.

So what can a professional association do for you?

"    Increase your credibility and visibility "    Introduce you to new contacts "    Position you in the forefront of the industry media "    Engage you in long lasted personal relationships "    Provide opportunities to enhance your professional skills.
What can't an association do for you? "    Do the work for you "    Redeem shoddy performance "    Repair burned bridges "    Get your name out there (you have to do that yourself) "    Make you a star if you aren't willing to shine!
So think about what associations can do for you for the balance of the year and invest some dollars in resources that can help you.
What's your best bet? Look for associations that offer a multitude of services for the investment dollar. "    Listing in a directory "    Website hotlink "    Free self promotion services "    Press release placement "    Speakers Bureau "    Experts Bureau "    Job bulletin board "    Opportunity to submit articles and information "    Conferences, events and trade shows.

Make sure that you invest in, at a minimum, one association that has the resources and the support to help you shine.

JoAnn Hines

JoAnn Hines is a packaging diva. She has nearly 30 years of experience in the industry including her work as the packaging expert to the U.S. Small Business Administration and traveling to China to lead a packaging delegation. Recognizing her expertise NBC TV featured her on their consumer segment, Can you open it? Her advice and articles appear in virtually every US packaging industry publication, numerous business and international publications, and website portals including "PackExpo.com", "PackagingUniversity", "Packaging Business", "Packaging Network", "Packaging Horizons Magazine," "Packaging World," "Packaging Digest," "Shipping and Distribution Magazine," "Warehouse Management," "Traffic World". As a featured keynote speaker at trade shows and conferences, she educates thousands of people around the world about intricacies of packaging.

Joining the packaging industry in 1976, Hines worked in sales for several years and began consulting during the 1980s. She is an accomplished author, speaker, publisher, marketer, and e-commerce expert. She has won numerous leadership awards and among other honors was named "One of the 50 most influential packaging leaders in the 20th century." She is the founder of Women in Packaging, Packaging Horizons Magazine, Packaging Career Hotline, Packaging Coach and Packaging University.