Some sectors better able to weather rocky economy; hardest hit industries take brunt. Declines in membership dues revenue accelerated as 2009 unfolded, according to the latest tax documents filed by national trade and professional groups. An analysis by CEO Update of hundreds of IRS forms, now finally available, dramatically illustrates the effect of the economic recession on membership dues. And the picture is grim. For associations whose tax year covers the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009, 40 percent reported lower dues revenue, but just six months later—for groups whose tax year is the entire 2009 calendar year—that number spiked to more than 60 percent. That is… Read More