AIN Membership and Professional Membership Guide and FAQ

Welcome to the AIN Membership and Professional Membership Guide and FAQ Page! Here you will find answers to our frequently asked questions about our membership, find direct links to help guide you with your AIN profile and membership, and more.

Please read all of our FAQs below and if you’d still like to email us with a question, please reach out to [email protected] with "AIN Membership" in the subject line. Thank you!

FAQs:

1. Why belong to AIN?

As a member of AIN, you are a pioneer in the exciting field of Applied Improvisation. AIN is the Applied Improvisation Network, a generous and inclusive community of fellow practitioners. Members are co-creating this fast-developing field with applications in business, academia, and humanitarian groups. As a member, you, too, can contribute and tap into our global collective wisdom for inspiration and growth. With online and in-person conferences and events, locally, regionally, and globally, we keep members informed of the latest Applied Improvisation trends, knowledge, and practices. There are numerous volunteer, speaking, and leadership opportunities that can enhance your own career.

2. How much does an AIN Membership cost?

There are two types of AIN Memberships. The cost for Membership is $50 USD a year. The cost for a Professional Membership is $99 USD a year.

3. What is the difference between an AIN Member and an AIN Professional Member?

An AIN Member pays an annual fee of $50 to state that they are an official AIN Member, get advanced membership notification, receive membership discounts, become an AIN Mentee, and more. 

An AIN Professional Member pays an annual fee of $99 to receive all the benefits of a Member, state that they are an official AIN Professional Member, have a listing in our Professional Membership directory, act as an AIN Mentor, and more. 

Please read Question 4 (below) for the complete list of benefits for both Members and Professional Members.

4. What are the benefits of an AIN Member or AIN Professional Member? 

• Receive AIN-related news and information via our emails
• Invitation to join the AIN Facebook group, where you can connect with 1000s of colleagues and trade information on best practices and opportunities
• Join Forum Discussions on the AIN website on a variety of Applied Improvisation topics
• Get advance notification about AIN programs and events
• Receive discounts on selected AIN events (Virtual and Global Conferences)
• Become a convener of an official local/regional AIN group
• Stand for election as a member of the AIN Board                                                                                                
• State that you are a Member of AIN
• Become an AIN Mentee in the AIN Mentor Program

• Enjoy all the benefits of the above Membership
• List your business on the Professional Services page of the AIN website. This promotes your work to those searching for practitioners and allows peers to recognize you as having a significant professional practice
• Receive priority booking in annual Learning Journeys and other AIN limited-number events
• Receive a Vanity URL for your practice/business
• Take part in AIN Professional Mastermind groups
• Contribute to Official AIN content (YouTube channel, AIN magazine, etc.)
• Submit as a 'Professional Member Presenter' at AIN Conferences
• Act as an AIN Mentor in the AIN Mentor Program
• State that you are a Professional Member of AIN
• Join growing global network members

*Membership benefits to the organization include access to the AIN Resource Library, AIN Members' Newsletter, and full editing privileges on our online member's directory.

5. Where do I go to become an AIN Member/AIN Professional Member?

Click here to become an AIN Member or Professional Member: https://apin.memberclicks.net/membership-application#!/ 

6. I’m already an AIN Member, can I upgrade to a Professional Member?

Yes, please email us at [email protected] with “Professional Membership Upgrade” in the subject line and let us know you’d like to upgrade. 

7. If I pay for an AIN membership, do I need to pay again each year?

Yes, AIN Memberships are for one calendar year. The cost for Membership is $50 USD a year. The cost for a Professional Membership is $99 USD a year. 

8. I'm a member of the Facebook Group -- does that mean I'm a member of AIN?

No, joining the AIN Facebook Group or any AIN social media group, does not make you an AIN Member. 

9. How do I know when my membership expires?

You can check on your membership status by logging into your AIN account. Once you enter your email/username and password, click on “My Profile”. On the right of the screen, you will see “Membership Status”, and it will either say Active, Lapsed, or Graced. You can check your last paid membership date by “viewing invoices”.

10. Where do I go to renew my membership?

If you would like to renew your membership, please log in and check your membership status (see Question 9) and your invoices to renew. If you need help renewing your membership, please contact us at [email protected].

11. When I log in and check my Membership Type, it says Prospect - what is that?

A Prospect profile is a free non-member AIN profile. Prospect profiles do not pay dues as they are non-members and cannot participate in member benefits. As a Prospect, you will still get our network-wide emails and notifications from us, but we would love to have you join as an official AIN Member!

12. What does Active, Graced, and Lapsed mean? 

Active means your membership is active and current. 

Graced means that your membership has expired and you are in a grace period. You still have your membership benefits but your membership is past due. To keep your membership, you need to pay the renewal invoice or email us to let us know you’d like to no longer be a paying member. 

Lapsed means your membership is past expired and you no longer have membership benefits. Please note: When you are lapsed, you are unable to log into your account per our website hosts rules. To keep your membership, you need to pay the renewal invoice or email us to let us know you’d like to no longer be a paying member. You can also choose to not renew and request to have your membership status changed to Prospect.

13. I already attend Open Space and other programs, and I'm active on the Facebook Page, so what is the benefit of being an AIN Member? 

There are many benefits of being a member!  Please note Question #4 for the list of Membership Benefits in this FAQ. Along with our Membership benefits, becoming a paying AIN Member allows the organization to continue programming its events, conferences, and networking opportunities. AIN is a 501c(6) registered not-for-profit membership-based organization in the United States. We succeed through the support of its members and volunteers. Membership dues cover the hard costs of our part-time office administrator, website, and operational expenses. Membership to AIN is established by our organization's Bylaws; however, the membership fee was originally collected while attending our in-person conferences. The organization felt enabling everyone access to pay for membership removes inequities for those members who could afford to travel to an in-person conference. 

14. I’m still not sure!

Feel free to join like minded colleagues in free AIN events like Open Space and Watch Parties as a Prospect, or you can join us and connect on our social media.  We hope that, in time, you will not only want to take advantage of the extra benefits of being a paid member, but that you’ll want to financially support the organization’s mission and its ability to serve the Applied Improvisation community.  If you have any questions about AIN membership, please reach out to us via email [email protected].

(Last updated: October 11th, 2023 at 1pm cdt)