s IAPD continues to evolve to meet the dynamic needs of the performance plastics industry, we are proud to introduce the IAPD Member Resource Hub — an innovative, members-only area on the IAPD website designed to deliver unparalleled value to our members. To fully appreciate the significance of this launch, it’s important to reflect on our past strategies, the lessons learned and the new direction we’re embracing to strengthen the value of IAPD membership.

Historically, IAPD operated under a strategy focused on educating not just our members, but also the end-use customers of our distributor members — designers, specifiers and engineers. This approach led to the development of numerous resources accessible to nonmembers, including:

The Designing with Plastics newsletter: A monthly publication that repurposed articles, webinars and other resources targeted at end-use customers.

Expanded Expo: Our tradeshow was broadened to attract end-use customers, aiming to bridge the gap between distributors and their clients.

Webinars: Initially designed with end-use customers in mind, these webinars provided technical insights and educational content beyond our membership base.

While this strategy was well-intentioned, aiming to position IAPD as an educational leader within the broader industry, it did not yield the desired outcomes for our members, the industry or the association.

Associations have long grappled with the balance between members-only benefits and offerings for nonmembers. Historically, IAPD’s educational resources were limited to a few key items:

• Performance Plastics magazine
• Webinars
• Certificate courses
• The Introduction to Performance Plastics training manual

Of these, only webinars could be exclusively for members, while the others had to be accessible to nonmembers, albeit at a higher price point. Webinars, offered free to members, served as a prospecting tool to attract nonmembers.

The value of membership became diluted as nonmembers accessed the same resources without contributing to the association’s sustainability through dues.

As a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit association under the IRS classification guidelines, IAPD is legally required to offer certain programs and services to nonmembers. These include:

• Certificate courses
• Most educational events (annual convention, Women in Plastics, Plastics Live Training)
• Advertising opportunities in Performance Plastics magazine
• Exhibit booths
• Electronic advertising

Members often question why these offerings are accessible to nonmembers, and it’s a valid concern. The answer lies in IRS regulations, which dictate that 501(c)(6) associations serve the entire industry or profession, promoting fair competition. Restricting access to certain benefits could be seen as creating barriers to competition, which falls under anti-trust laws.

However, over the past seven years, IAPD’s committees and task forces have significantly expanded its content offerings. Content creation is no longer limited to the Education Committee. Today, the Government Relations Committee, Environmental Committee, GenerationNext Program, Women in Plastics Committee, Small Distributor & Fabricator Roundtables, the DEI+B Task Force and various association task forces actively produce:

• Webinars
• Toolkits, articles and resources
• Educational materials
• Industry reports

This explosion of content has created a robust library of resources, the majority of which are free. The sheer volume and quality of these materials made it clear: continuing to offer these resources to nonmembers, whether free or paid, no longer made sense. The hard work of our volunteer committees, task forces and dedicated staff represents a significant investment funded by member dues. It was time to ensure that this “sweat equity” delivered tangible value to those who support IAPD through their membership.

Enter the IAPD Member Resource Hub — a centralized, members-only area on the IAPD website designed to consolidate and streamline access to our expansive library of resources. This new strategy emphasizes the value of membership by reserving most of our educational content, tools and industry insights exclusively for members.

Key features of the member resource hub Include:

• Member value resources and education: Performance plastics applications, technical properties and supporting materials.
• Sustainability initiatives: Resources to support environmentally responsible practices.
• Legislative updates and advocacy tools: Stay informed about policy changes affecting the industry.
• Supply chain insights: Timely information to navigate complex supply chain challenges.
• Workforce development resources: Tools to support talent acquisition and retention.
• Publications and media: Exclusive access to Performance Plastics magazine, archived webinars, podcasts and newsletters.
• Education and training opportunities: Including IAPD University courses, certificate programs and more.
• Operations and resources: Applications, financial forms, Codes of Conduct, past events and other governance and association administrative tools.

The next phase of the Member Resource Hub will feature a custom developed IAPD ChatGPT feature. This artificial intelligence (AI) ChatGPT, developed by AI expert Sam Richter, will feature an engine that is pre-trained on performance plastics industry knowledge, IAPD and other notable features. Our goal for the launch of this feature is second quarter 2025.

The launch of the Member Resource Hub is more than just a new feature on our website; it represents a fundamental shift in how we deliver value to our members. By securing these resources behind a members-only login, we:

Enhance the exclusivity of membership: Members receive tangible benefits that nonmembers cannot access.

Maximize member investment: The resources developed through member contributions are reserved for those who fund the association.

Encourage deeper engagement: Intuitively organized in a central location, members are more likely to explore and utilize the full breadth of IAPD’s offerings.

Moreover, this strategy aligns with our commitment to continuous improvement. The Member Resource Hub is not static — we will regularly update and expand the resources available, ensuring that members always have access to the latest tools, information and educational content.

As we move forward, the IAPD Member Resource Hub will serve as the cornerstone of our membership value proposition. This shift reflects our dedication to:

• Recognizing member contributions: Your dues fund the creation of these valuable resources.
• Delivering unparalleled value: Ensuring that membership in IAPD is not just beneficial, but essential.
• Fostering a stronger, more connected community: By centralizing resources, we create opportunities for collaboration, learning and growth.

We encourage all members to explore the new IAPD Member Resource Hub, engage with the wealth of resources available and maximize the value of their membership. This is just the beginning of a new era for IAPD, one where membership truly means more.