2002-2003 membership satisfaction survey.

• Position: Membership Satisfaction Survey

Summary of Results

In November and December of 2002, Tax Executives Institute conducted a survey of its members. Working with an independent research company, TEI developed a survey designed not only to measure members' satisfaction with TEI current programs and priorities, but also to assess their needs in respect of education, networking, and advocacy. The results will assist the Institute's leadership in refreshing TEI's strategic plan, setting priorities for the coming years, and recommending changes to TEI's structure, governance, and decision-making processes.

The survey was conducted electronically, with follow-up by regular mail. Hence, the Institute sent an e-mail message to all members with a link to an online survey instrument inviting their response. Follow-up messages were sent to members who had not responded within a few days, and later still, a printed version of the survey was mailed to members for whom TEI had no valid e-mail address or for whom previous e-mail messages had been undeliverable. Finally, a follow-up survey package was mailed at the end of December to all who had not yet responded. In adopting this methodology, TEI's goal was to maximize the number of responses while minimizing the pestering of members who had already responded.

The response to the survey was gratifying. The survey was sent to 5,225 active members of the Institute (as of November 2002). The data-gathering phase of the project was closed on January 21, 2003, with a total of 2,031 usable responses--a 39-percent response rate. Percentages based on the responses are subject to a margin of error of [+ or -] 1.7 percent at the 95-percent confidence level. The responses were tabulated and the following report was prepared in accordance with accepted research standards and practices. Note: Percentages will not always total 100 percent because of rounding, and results for "no answer" are omitted.

Your TEI Membership 1. About how long have you been a TEI member? 38% Less than 5 years 23% 5 - 9 years 17% 10 - 14 years 11% 15 - 19 years 11% 20 years or more Comment: Nearly two-thirds of those responding had been members less than 10 years. 2. In the last 2 years, how many times have you personally done each of these things? None 1 Time 2-3 Times 4+ Times 12% 8% 18% 61% Attended a chapter meeting 70% 14% 9% 2% Attended a regional conference 58% 19% 15% 5% Attended the Annual or Midyear conference 61% 17% 14% 3% Attended a 2- or 3-day seminar 63% 19% 11% 2% Participated in a telephone seminar 86% 6% 2% -- Attended a week-long course 17% 9% 24% 48% Logged on to TEI Online or TEI's public website 43% 13% 22% 18% Obtained information about a TEI educational program online 56% 10% 14% 15% Used the online membership directory 59% 21% 13% 4% Registered for a program or paid dues online 77% 5% 7% 6% Posted an item on TEI Online 6% 5% 22% 66% Read a feature article in The Tax Executive 27% 10% 19% 40% Read a technical submission in The Tax Executive or online 17% 11% 24% 46% Used the Membership Roster 71% 11% 9% 4% Taken advantage of discounts provided on RIA/Carswell products 81% 4% 4% 7% Participated in an Institute committee meeting 85% 5% 3% 2% Participated in the development of a TEI submission Comment: Generally, the trend seems to be that the longer someone had been a member of the Institute, the more activities he or she had participated in or more services he or she had taken advantage of. 3a. How do you rate TEI's performance of the following functions at the Chapter Level? Poor Excellent No Opinion 0 1 2 3 4 1% 3% 11% 32% 45% 8% Networking opportunities 1% 2% 10% 38% 43% 7% Education of members 3% 9% 21% 27% 21% 20% Advocacy (such as improving tax administration and policy through submissions and liaison meetings) 3b. How do you rate TEI's performance of the following functions at the Institute Level? Poor Excellent No Opinion 0 1 2 3 4 1% 5% 15% 27% 29% 23% Networking opportunities -- 1% 7% 29% 50% 13% Education of members -- 1% 6% 27% 51% 14% Advocacy (such as...