Growing Membership Together: Where We Stand and What’s Next
Townhall: October 15, 2026
By Chris Martinez, Chief of Member Engagement and Development, SMPS HQ
Membership is a shared priority in the SMPS 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, and I believe the best path forward starts with partnership. After experiencing SMPS as a student member, chapter volunteer, chapter president, and now as part of the HQ team, I’ve seen firsthand the difference engaged volunteers can make in creating a meaningful member experience.
Over the past year and a half, SMPS has seen a decline in membership renewals. Rather than simply looking at the numbers, we’re focused on understanding the story behind them. Why are members choosing not to renew? Where are we delivering value, and where can we do better? By listening to our members and learning from our chapters, we can use those insights to strengthen the experience and help members find lasting value in SMPS.
There’s also encouraging momentum. New memberships and renewals have exceeded our forecasted projections for August and September, giving us an opportunity to build on that progress.
We’re exploring several ideas to support chapters and members, including cohorts for membership leaders to share ideas and learn from one another, a chapter ambassador program that connects new members with experienced ones, and content and engagement opportunities that reflect where members are in their careers. We’re also looking at ways to reach prospective members and create stronger connections during that first year.
All these ideas will be stronger because of what we learn from you. Every chapter has different experiences, successes, challenges, and ideas. Your perspective matters. Membership should be something we build with chapters, not something developed for chapters.
Join us October 15, 2026, for Growing Together: A Membership Strategy Session for Chapter Leaders. We’ll walk through the renewal process, share what the data is telling us, and begin shaping ideas together. Chapter presidents, presidents-elect, membership directors, and treasurers are encouraged to register and join the conversation.
I’m excited to work alongside you and support the volunteers who make SMPS membership meaningful every day. Together, we can create an experience that gives members more reasons to join, engage, stay, and grow with SMPS.