I am member of many professional organizations. Though these associations have large membership and are quite active in organizing events like seminars, conferences, workshops and get together, they are observed to be financially very weak with infrastructural facilities and stable administrative staff. These organizations elect their managing boards and the people so elected work in honorary capacity and the organization activities are planned and executed under their leadership with the help of permanent administrative staff.
Though these organizations have noble aims and objectives, there is little effort to make the organization financially stable for future growth. The only way adopted by these organizations for collecting funds is through donations and advertisement/stall bookings at the time of annual conventions or exhibitions. The organizations also have life membership plans rather tha annual subscriptions. The idea behind life membership is to form a corpus fund and run the organization though the interest from such fund.
Though these organizations have noble aims and objectives, there is little effort to make the organization financially stable for future growth. The only way adopted by these organizations for collecting funds is through donations and advertisement/stall bookings at the time of annual conventions or exhibitions. The organizations also have life membership plans rather tha annual subscriptions. The idea behind life membership is to form a corpus fund and run the organization though the interest from such fund.
However, as the cost of products and services rise very fast as compared to constant interest, the organizations cannot provide the services to members from such fund. Naturally the members soon become inactive towards the organization. Those who are office bearers try to increase life membership fee or get new members for strengthening the organization financially. However, this also fails to improve the situation, as the number of active members remains very small.
As these organizations are established with some motive of social service, it is expected that the members would contribute actively for fulfilling the objectives of the organization. Absence of constant association of organization with its members, makes the status of organization as event maker rather than regular functioning. As a result, the organizations remain dormant for most of the time defeating the very purpose of forming such organizations.
Fortunately, the digital media has developed many gadgets and tools which can help in keeping live and active interaction between organization and its members and organization can provide many more value adding services to its members through web portal. These include products/services directory, discussion forum, knowledge database, e-learning solutions, platform for collaborative activities, webinars etc.
As these organizations are established with some motive of social service, it is expected that the members would contribute actively for fulfilling the objectives of the organization. Absence of constant association of organization with its members, makes the status of organization as event maker rather than regular functioning. As a result, the organizations remain dormant for most of the time defeating the very purpose of forming such organizations.
Fortunately, the digital media has developed many gadgets and tools which can help in keeping live and active interaction between organization and its members and organization can provide many more value adding services to its members through web portal. These include products/services directory, discussion forum, knowledge database, e-learning solutions, platform for collaborative activities, webinars etc.
Instead of periodic circulation of printed newsletters and journals, the organization can communicate with its members and get their feedback and suggestions on continuous basis. Once all the members start getting these benefits from organization, the website will be visited regularly by its members. This will help in getting revenue by providing opportunity for product and service providers to advertise on the website and facilities for members to showcase their achievements or information about their business to other members.There can also be provision of online sale of books and other products.
Study of some international professional organizations revealed that their major income is through digital media in the form of knowledge transfer, education, sale of goods and services and advertisements. These organizations have a strong corporate infra-structure, sound business model for sustainable growth and are ready to expand their activities in India. They have annual membership, which gives them constant source of finance for running their activities.
Unless Indian organizations transform their way of working by making major changes in their administrative setup, membership rules and adopt digital media as the main platform for conducting their activities with self financing ability, they may be superseded by international agencies.
Study of some international professional organizations revealed that their major income is through digital media in the form of knowledge transfer, education, sale of goods and services and advertisements. These organizations have a strong corporate infra-structure, sound business model for sustainable growth and are ready to expand their activities in India. They have annual membership, which gives them constant source of finance for running their activities.
Unless Indian organizations transform their way of working by making major changes in their administrative setup, membership rules and adopt digital media as the main platform for conducting their activities with self financing ability, they may be superseded by international agencies.
Dnyandeep Infotech Pvt. Ltd. has got an opportunity to associate in such initiative and bold step taken by Indian Water Works Association, Mumbai.
We are developing webportal of IWWA (http://www.iwwa.info) which will be enhanced in stages to incorporate all features of knowledge sharing, advertisement and e-commerce solutions. We hope that IWWA members will actively support our sincere efforts to make IWWA, financially strong and growing organization with better service to its members and as a leader organization in Water Sector .
We are developing webportal of IWWA (http://www.iwwa.info) which will be enhanced in stages to incorporate all features of knowledge sharing, advertisement and e-commerce solutions. We hope that IWWA members will actively support our sincere efforts to make IWWA, financially strong and growing organization with better service to its members and as a leader organization in Water Sector .
We have build a network of young IT technocrats, who are masters in new web design trends and app development in Android and IOS platforms. Myself, Chairman of Dnyandeep Infotech and Dnyandeep Foundation has got a rare opportunity to stay in California on green card status, which may be converted to citizenship previledges in future.
I wish to use my varied experience of 5 decades in Environment, Green Buildings and Information Technology for transforming Indian associations to become compatible with Professional Organisations from advanced countries so that they also can expand and establish their branches in other countries like foreign associations entering Indian client market.
We are ready to undertake such projects on BOT principles also provided we are given long term assignments and freedom to do sell Indian goods and services.
We have now established our branch in Nagpur, a central vibrant place in India and the branch is headed by Dr. N. S. Raman, an international authority in Environmental Impact studies and accreitation. I am sure academic institutes also will join our efforts through Dnyandeep Foundation, which has provided open platform on equal stakes and benifits through such activities.
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