M
elos
advancing the body of knowledge for membership-based organizations
Institute

Melos Institute


The Melos Institute is America's only independent nonprofit think tank
solely focused on addressing the challenging issues affecting membership-based organizations.

Its mission is to develop a more comprehensive principles-based, systems-oriented body of knowledge
for the association community.

It brings together individuals across professions & generations
to examine new & better ways for volunteers & staff leaders to deliver
more meaningful & transformative experiences for members.

Research findings are shared with the association management community to continue the dialog & ensure that all new approaches, models & ideas are grassroots-led & grassroots-fed.

 Institute Happenings
 For immediate release:

 

Complimentary Tools 

 These tools were made available
in 2011.  

 

Strategic Board Development Checklist for Planning An Effective Orientation

 

Three Questions to Recruit Volunteers Tip Card

 Alternative Member Orientation Module

 

 

 

 

Building Productive Working Relationship Checklist

 Join the mailing list to gain access to more assessments, checklists, modules, tip cards and other leadership tools.

Mailing List
Just want to be informed of the Institute's
progress? Join the Institute's mailing list.
Your contact information remains confidential.

Research:
Restoring Purposeful Pathways 

Phase II: 2012

Member Engagement Research Initiative (MERI)
Membership-based organizations are distinctive from other nonprofit & for-profit organizations in their purpose, scope, & operation. Because they depend upon their members to contribute in many ways, understanding the dimensions & dynamics that fosters & shapes member engagement has remained elusive for decades.

At present, no standard definition exists, or  means for its measurement. Learn more about this unprecedented study that is just about ready to get underway...

Want to shape the discussion? An open community discussion group will soon be formed for you to weigh in on this important issue. Join the mailing list to be notified when the group becomes active.

Phase I: 2011

Defining the Role of Membership-based Organizations in Advancing America's Potential

MBOs have the perfect organizational structure to disseminate information, knowledge, & innovation quickly, accurately, & effectively to their members, & in many cases, the general public.

As successful as they have been, their growth development & complexity have produced unintentional consequences - most notably difficulty in securing a high degree of member participation and engagement. This hampers their effectiveness to deliver meaningful & transformative experiences to their members; or make significant contributions to the larger society.

This project set in motion the development of a framework for an alternative model - a relation-centered management model - specially designed for the association management community. Learn more about this new approach and new way of thinking....

Got an opinion about the model? Share your thoughts on the Institute's Community Forum.

 

 "What people have the capacity to choose,
they have the ability to change."    
Madeleine Albright

Donate

Choose to be part of this worthwhile endeavor to identify better ways to deliver meaningful & transformative experiences to your members. Your gift will help fund more research focused solely on building more effective models & tools to govern & manage membership-based organizations.
Donate today.

 Community Commentary

An Alternative Management Model

If membership-based organizations are unique social systems. then what management model best suits its operation?

The Melos Institute is examining an alternative model built upon a theoretical framework, set of universal principles & key functional areas.

Review and comment on the two working papers that introduce this alternative model for managing 21st century associations...

 

 For Your Consideration This Month...
Every month the Institute offers an opinion, perspective, or insight on the governance & management of membership-based organizations.

These pieces challenge contemporary thinking, offer an alternative & a tool for immediate use.

May's Selections

What We Can All Learn About Membership From Ryan Crowe

Stealth Learning: A Surefire Way to Get Your Members to Say WOW About Your Next Conference

April's Selection

 Recruitment is Easy, Cultivating an Engaged Membership Requires Finesse 

 

Join the Institute's mailing list to be informed monthly of their availability and gain access to these complimentary pieces.

Melos Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

 
 
 

 1071 Yosemite Drive

 650.355.4094 phone
 Pacifica, California 94044 USA

 650.359.3611 fax
 copyright (c) 2012 Melos Institute

 info@melosinstitute.org