{"id":3288,"date":"2014-10-21T12:05:09","date_gmt":"2014-10-21T16:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/?p=3288"},"modified":"2014-10-21T12:05:09","modified_gmt":"2014-10-21T16:05:09","slug":"aboard-open-access-train","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/aboard-open-access-train\/","title":{"rendered":"All Aboard the Open Access Train"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_173\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-173\" style=\"width: 100px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/Kelly-D-headshot-e1349815682310.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-173\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/10\/Kelly-D-headshot-e1349815682310.jpg\" alt=\"Kelly Donovan, Naylor\" width=\"100\" height=\"102\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-173\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Kelly Donovan Clark, Naylor<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My husband and I recently traveled to Munich, Germany on our honeymoon. We didn\u2019t have a car, but Munich\u2019s U-bahn (<em>Untergrundbahn<\/em>, underground rail) and S-bahn (<em>Stadtschnellbahn<\/em>, commuter rail) allowed us to travel all over the city as well as to and from the airport. Both rail systems were easy to navigate, safe, clean, and even \u2013 for us suburbanites who drive more than 150 miles each per week around Atlanta \u2013 <em>fun<\/em> to ride. Someone else did the driving for once!<\/p>\n<p>What really amazed us about Munich\u2019s rail, however, was the ticketing system. Here\u2019s how you ride the trains in Munich: Go to station. Purchase ticket from kiosk or ticket counter. Time-stamp ticket. Walk to train platform. Ride train.<\/p>\n<p>Wait. Where were the turnstiles? Or the attendant punching tickets?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/02\/Tweetables-icon.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2502\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/02\/Tweetables-icon.jpg\" alt=\"Tweetables\" width=\"300\" height=\"65\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Smart associations are learning to participate in\u2014rather than fight against\u2014today\u2019s sharing economy. <a href=\"http:\/\/ctt.ec\/UN18h\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/clicktotweet.com\/img\/tweet-graphic-1.png\" alt=\"Tweet: Smart associations are learning to participate in\u2014rather than fight against\u2014today\u2019s sharing economy. #assocadviser http:\/\/ctt.ec\/UN18h+\" width=\"21px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Like the European transit system, more and more associations are providing free or low-cost access that encourages repeat visits and usage.<\/li>\n<li>Associations can widen their reach and expand their potential membership pool by taking down barriers to <strong><em>some<\/em><\/strong> of their high value resources and education materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3289\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3289\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz-sign.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3289 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz-sign-300x218.jpg\" alt=\"The municipally-owned Munich U-bahn (underground rail) is an open-access resource.\" width=\"300\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz-sign-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz-sign.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3289\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The municipally-owned Munich U-bahn (underground rail) is an open-access resource.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nowhere. The M\u00fcnchner Verkehrs-und Tarifverbund (the municipally-owned Munich Transport and Tariff Association, MVV) and the citizens of Munich operate on an honor system. MVV provides a quality, useful service, and citizens voluntarily purchase tickets to support this service. (Though there are inspectors who occasionally check passengers\u2019 tickets and impose a \u20ac40 if you do not have a valid ticket, we did not see any during our stay.)<\/p>\n<p>Wide-eyed after breezing onto the platform for our first Munich U-bahn ride, my husband and I looked at each other and agreed that, unfortunately, an American transportation authority that allowed open-access ridership would be broke within six months.<\/p>\n<p>But could an open-access honor system work for associations and their resources?<\/p>\n<p>Many associations have repositories of books, videos, and other multimedia that educate members about their industry or their members\u2019 profession. Many post these materials on their websites for easy, anywhere access. The <a href=\"http:\/\/caodc.ca\">Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/loga.la\">Louisiana Oil &amp; Gas Association<\/a> both offer weekly, often daily updates about rig counts, legislative happenings and wages \u2013 comprehensive compendia of information that is essential to the daily operations of oil industry professionals, and accessible to everyone, whether or not they are CAODC or LOGA members.<\/p>\n<p>Some, like the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.calsae.org\/home\">California Society of Association Executives<\/a>, offer online discussion boards and member communities that facilitate the exchange of information. You must be a member to join the discussions and access the member-created online topic-based libraries, but membership includes access to everything online.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3290\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3290\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3290 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz-300x218.jpg\" alt=\"Marienplatz\" width=\"300\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Marienplatz.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3290\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Does your association make it easy for your members to enjoy the benefits of membership the way the MVV makes it easy to travel Munich by light rail?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You could argue that one purpose of associations is to collect and make accessible information that will further individuals\u2019 careers as well as an industry as a whole. The Melos Institute\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.melosinstitute.org\/Resources\/Documents\/MI%20Indeed%20Relevant%20Assn%20Pivotal%20Role%20rev%5B1%5D.pdf\">description of membership-based organizations (MBOs)<\/a> states that \u201cMBOs are actively engaged in defining the body of knowledge necessary to advance the discipline\u201d and that \u201cMBOs are dedicated to advancing the competency of those involved in the discipline.\u201d Thus, of course an association should operate on an open-access basis so that as many people as possible can enjoy the benefits of the association\u2019s collective body of knowledge plus the work of its professionals, volunteers, community leaders, and mentors. There\u2019s evidence that associations take this priority seriously: according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thepowerofa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2012\/03\/Associations-Matter-FINAL.pdf\">ASAE and the Center for Leadership<\/a>, 92,331 trade and professional associations spent more than $2.6 million million on education and professional development activities in 2009.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3291\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3291\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Munich-commuter-train.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3291 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Munich-commuter-train-300x218.jpg\" alt=\"Munich commuter train\" width=\"300\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Munich-commuter-train-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/10\/Munich-commuter-train.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3291\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Train fares in Munich increase marginally with each additional passenger in your party. How can associations encourage increased use of their resources by more members?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Of course someone has to finance the time, effort, and materials that go into curating a library, a website or a study program., Just like someone has to pay to keep the U-bahn trains clean and the tracks in working order. It is the governing body\u2019s responsibility to set a fair price. But if the product or service is one of quality, that conveniently and affordably serves a need, then people will be willing to support it monetarily. For its U-bahn network, the MVV offers single-person day tickets starting at 6 \u20ac. For less than double the cost \u2013 11,20 \u20ac \u2013 you can buy a \u201cpartner ticket\u201d that is valid for two to five adults. No, really: Two to five adults can ride the train for a flat price! Besides the community this scale of economy fosters (let\u2019s ALL go to Oktoberfest together!), MVV encourages its riders to use its trains more by making it extremely affordable.<\/p>\n<p>What might this model look like for associations? A declining scale of membership fees for people from the same company, neighborhood, or college? Decreased cost to access study materials based on frequency of meetings with a mentor? Associations should encourage use of its libraries and human networks in the same way the MVV encourage riders to ride the U-bahn.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s up to associations to set a fair price for their resources. But if their purpose is to advance their discipline, cause or industry as a whole, then relatively open, affordable access ensures that no one is completely left out or left behind. Everyone, even if they are currently struggling, should enjoy the benefits of a well-founded network.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We paid for our train tickets, of course, because we appreciated the extensive and convenient transportation the Munich trains offered. How can your association provide the resources and knowledge members appreciate and are willing to support?<\/p>\n<p><em>Kelly Donovan Clark is the manager for online marketing at Naylor Association Solutions.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Munich\u2019s U-bahn (Untergrundbahn, underground rail) and S-bahn (Stadtschnellbahn, commuter rail) require tickets, but the train stations do not have turnstiles. Which means the trains are technically open-access resources for Munich citizens and tourists. What if associations adopted this level of open access for their resources? What might that look like? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[49,140,566,286,567,295,568,569],"class_list":["post-3288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-asae","tag-asq","tag-association-resources","tag-calsae","tag-canadian-association-of-oilwell-drilling-contractors","tag-louisiana-oil-and-gas-association","tag-munich","tag-open-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>All Aboard the Open Access Train - Association Adviser<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Munich\u2019s U-bahn (Untergrundbahn, underground rail) require tickets, but the train stations do not have turnstiles. 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