Membership Survey Highlights Areas for Improvement Member Satisfaction Remains High.

A recent survey of TEI members reveals that, while there is a generally high level of member satisfaction with TEI at both the chapter and Institute levels, numerous opportunities exist for increasing the quality of services provided to tax executives. This article summarizes the results, which TEI President Charles W. Shewbridge, III says will help guide the Institute's strategic planning initiatives for the next several years.

Methodology

Last fall, a Membership Satisfaction Survey was mailed to all members with the 1998-1999 Membership Roster. More than a thousand responses were received -- nearly 25 percent of the active membership. (Of the respondents, 59 percent have been members for 10 years or less.) A statistical summary of results (on both a national and a chapter-by-chapter basis), together with voluminous narrative comments was circulated to both the 1998-1999 and the 1999-2000 Chapter Presidents and Officers, who were asked to consider them from two perspectives -- what they mean at the local level and what they mean at the national level.

General Level of Satisfaction

While the survey identified a number of areas for improvement, the results generally reflect a membership that believes TEI is on the right track. Hence, the survey reveals that there is a high level of satisfaction among TEI members with the Institute's activities in the three major areas: networking opportunities, educational activities, and advocacy efforts. For example, on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the most positive), the percentages of members giving the overall Institute and the chapters each rating in providing networking opportunities, educating the members, and advocacy are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: How Well Is TEI Doing? Very Well Average 5 4 3 Institute Level Providing Networking Opportunities 21 33 27 Educating the Members 38 38 14 Advocacy 41 37 10 Chapter Level Providing Networking Opportunities 33 40 21 Educating the Members 33 44 19 Advocacy 19 38 27 Poorly 2 1 Institute Level Providing Networking Opportunities 6 2 Educating the Members 1 0 Advocacy 1 1 Chapter Level Providing Networking Opportunities 4 1 Educating the Members 3 0 Advocacy 10 2 Finally, Table 2 shows the percentages of members who think that, compared with two years ago, the Institute and chapters are doing a better or worse job in the three areas.

Table 2: Compare Today to Two Years Ago Institute Better Same Worse Better Providing Networking Opportunities 11 75 1 15 Educating the Members 17 69 1 20 Advocacy 22 64 1 14 Chapter Same Worse Providing Networking Opportunities 75 2 Educating the Members 71 2 Advocacy 76 1 In other words, in each category at the Institute level, 86 percent or more of the membership believes the Institute is doing at least as good as job as it did...