What your competition uses to communicate and do business:

These methods are very expensive.

Toll free telephone numbers
Direct marketing mailing lists
Twenty-four hour staffed phone hot-lines
Glossy, 4-color printed brochures
Ads in newspapers and journals
A store with sales people

What you can do to "level the playing field":

These methods have moderate cost.

Your own web site, on call 24 hours a day
A chat room on your web site
Interactive forms on your web site
An electronic storefront on your web site
Full color photos, graphics, animation
Video and audio clips
An email discussion list

What your own web site can do to serve your constituencies:

Using the Internet is the affordable and competitive solution for your organization.

Educate members and the public about organizational goals, activities, and services.
Enhance the image of the organization.
Provide information to potential new members about affiliation and/or contribution.
Communicate with others in the organization's professional community about developments, news, and events in the field.
Encourage ties with others in the organizations professional community and related communities of interest.
Assist members of the public with timely information, research, and activities to foster the goals of organization.
Provide "business services" to members (e.g. conduct interest surveys, dues and donation collection, conference scheduling)