FEATURE ARTICLE
April 2004

The Results Are In: The 2003 Membership Survey
By Serena Santillanes, President-Elect and Membership Chair

Thank you to those of you who attended this past year’s membership meeting held at the International Career Development Conference. We had some lively discussions and over 100 people in attendance. As part of the meeting a membership survey was given. Below are the results of that survey:

Why did you join CCDA?

• Professor encouraged
  
• To network with other colleagues and gain a professional identity
  
• To have a voice in licensure
  
• To have a sense of purpose in the field
  
• To connect with like minds
  
• For professional affiliation
  
• To be part of the conference and to receive a discount at the conference
  
• To connect with others
  
• Upon the recommendation of a supervisor or director at job
  

What would you improve in the organization?

• The website – make it clearer and more user friendly
  
• Get rid of the affiliation with CACD
  
• Would like to see ways to help private practitioners get their name out in the community
  
• Gain a clearer understanding of the affiliation with CACD
  
• To have more regional gatherings
  
• Better and more organized communication for all members

Will you renew your membership? Why or why not?

• 100% said yes! A few members said that if the dues are not reduced and CACD publications continue to cease then they may reconsider and leave.
  

What additional services would you like to see added to the California Career Development Association?

• Job bank
  
• Mentor databank
  
• More CCDA activities throughout the year
  
• Speaker’s Bureau list for those interested in speaking at the chapter level
  
• A discount for a site that joins CCDA. For example, if the entire career center at a school joins CCDA then there would be a site discount for membership fees.
  
• More specific interest groups
  
• More cutting-edge subject matter
  
• More support for private practitioners
  
• Marketing of members’ websites
  
• More information on workforce development (public sector information)
  
• An opportunity for members to get together in a facilitated process and look at the probable future or futures of the work environment
  
• Emphasis on spirituality
  
• Reciprocal services with other professional organizations
  
• More marketing of the value of CCDA/CACD
  
  

Additional survey comments and results can be found at the CCDA website. We are listening to your concerns and requests so if you did not participate in this past membership meeting and would like to give your feedback about being a member of CCDA, please email me at serena@careerjourneys.net. We hope to see you at next year’s membership meeting and International Career Development Conference.