AOCS is continually working to help its members stay informed of scientific breakthroughs and industry trends. After all, it is members and their contributions that make up the true value of AOCS.

In 2010, AOCS welcomed 759 new individual members and 18 Corporate Members at the Bronze or Silver level. The AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo registration off er and the Member-Get-A-Member (MGM) programs were once again successful membership campaigns. The Annual Meeting off er brought in 301 new members, while the MGM program brought in 107 new members. AOCS ended the year with 4,201 individual members and 110 Corporate Members.

Membership highlights from 2010:

Sections assisted the Society in reaching local markets and AOCS members around the globe. The Australasian, Asian, and Indian Sections hosted local meetings, and all Sections had leadership meetings in which either AOCS staff or AOCS Governing Board members attended.

Divisions improved the AOCS information exchange by hosting quality technical sessions at the 101st AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, along with hosting networking opportunities and collaborating with related organizations’ meetings.

Enhanced Benefits were offered, including the new $75 credit toward eChapters – electronic chapters of some of the best-selling books from AOCS Press. The new member benefits complement the existing benefits, providing another avenue for members to access the information necessary for research projects to forecast industry trends and assist professional growth. With the enhanced membership benefits, AOCS strives to give its members the opportunity for interaction with experts worldwide, along with promoting knowledge and relationship building.

To understand the needs and interests of members, AOCS conducted a “Member Satisfaction” survey. The information helped assess the degree to which AOCS is meeting expectations and target areas where AOCS can improve. Highlights from the survey include:

Members have a favorable opinion of AOCS. Most agree that AOCS is the premier scientific authority in the oil chemistry field (88 percent). And when asked, “Overall, how satisfied are you with your AOCS membership?” 89 percent expressed satisfaction, while only two percent expressed dissatisfaction.

Most people became aware of AOCS through colleagues and employers. Individuals join in order to belong to a professional organization and choose to renew their membership for the same reason. AOCS has a reputation as a trusted organization.

Members expressed the strongest desirability for potential programs, products, and services like an AOCS e-Library, a multi-year membership at a discounted rate, professional networking sites, and customized news content.