91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½

Did you know there is a membership association for people who lead membership associations? I recently learned about the American Society for Association Executives, and I was struck by the opportunities it gives us to understand how other groups lead their fields as we strive to lead ours. The 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ and our staff partners are part of a bigger community that supports organizations like ours: large groups of people joined in common purpose.

One big takeaway is that all associations share common themes, and yet each is unique based on the topics, challenges and opportunities of the communities it serves. I’m so proud to be a member of 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ and to take part in our unique, dynamic community. I’m also grateful to have an opportunity to see what we can learn through greater interaction with the larger association community.

An obvious element most associations share is membership. As 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ kicks off the 2025 membership year, I wanted to share some thoughts about why people join associations and encourage you to renew for 2025 to take advantage of the unique value 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ provides.

Broadly, people join and stay connected with societies for three major reasons: commitment, content and community. What does that mean for 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ and for you in renewing your membership?

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s commitment: 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ hasbeen an unwavering North Star guiding biochemistry and molecular biology forward for nearly 120 years. Through that time, it has been the home of giants in our field from 1906 through to today. These scientists transform our fundamental understanding of life in profoundly exciting and promising ways. We need not look further than the Nobel Prizes over many decades to see how our members and the broader BMB community continue to make profoundly important discoveries that make future advances possible.

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s commitment to serving our community is as strong as ever, and perhaps more important than ever. As the world experiences waves of tremendous change over the decades, 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ has been and will be there to support you and your science.

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s content: 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ also provides valuable services to you and the field. Our programs and activities are another crucial — and trusted — aspect of 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ value for members. It all starts with the science published and read in 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s outstanding journals, discussed in our small meetings and webinars on emerging topics and debated and shared at the broad 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Annual Meeting. For example, at #91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½25, you’ll immerse yourself in the latest advancements and expand your knowledge about topics from interorganellar communication and signaling to metabolism and biosynthesis to new frontiers in enzyme and pseudoenzyme research and beyond.

Other 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ programs provide the latest insights on funding priorities from National Institutes of Health agencies and support professional development needs for younger investigators. We also work in Washington to be a strong voice advancing the needs of the BMB community, and we train researchers to be more effective communicators of science in public life. Finally, we are an important leader driving excellence in BMB education for the next generation, ensuring undergraduate students have the strong foundation they need for careers that might lead to academic, industry or public sector career paths, or more likely a bit of all of them.

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s community: Finally, we know great science happens when people work together to produce and share astonishing new knowledge. And we can only sustain great science when today’s leaders support a strong pipeline of early-career professionals and students who will be tomorrow’s innovators. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ serves as a dynamic home for both purposes and professionals, all in service to advancing discovery through biochemistry and molecular biology.

It’s also professionally and personally advantageous to be part of this community, and it’s simply a lot more fun when we do important work together. Thus, one of my most important and favorite reasons for being a member is simply all of you. Through membership and service on many committees and editorial boards, I have been deeply enriched professionally by knowledge I’ve gained from you, and each chance to meet someone in the halls of an 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ meeting is a new moment to connect. I know you feel the same — because many of you have told me. Our science is stronger, our collaborations are more robust and our impact is more widely seen by being a part of this diverse and vibrant community. And in good times and challenging ones, I find enormous satisfaction and delight in seeing familiar faces each year at the annual meeting or in other 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ venues, and it’s always exciting to meet new people who become lifelong friends.

Join today to strengthen your work and 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s ability to serve the field.

All associations realize that the world around us is evolving rapidly, and we must adapt ourselves and our larger communities to remain impactful, relevant and welcoming. 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ is actively engaged in conversations to determine how we will do that, with input from you. Check out key findings from the latest survey of members and our community in this issue. They will be one important input point as we chart our way forward, and we look forward to sharing more with you in months to come.

Most of all, we hope you too will see the value and importance of 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½’s commitment, content and community, and will join again for 2025. We are excited to host and serve you in so many 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ programs. And I will look for you in Chicago for #91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½25!