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Founded in 1949, the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to professional auctioneers. The NAA was built by auctioneers, for auctioneers.

Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, the NAA represents the interests of thousands of auctioneers in the U.S., Canada and across the world.

We previously wrote about the NAA about three years ago here:

Today’s topic is “Why join?” as auctioneers have recently been discussing the merits and value of membership.

First, I should say that I am a Life Member of the National Auctioneers Association. I joined the NAA in 1986 and have been a member ever since.

Currently, an auctioneer membership costs $300 per year. First-time members receive $300 back in education vouchers (credits) towards classes, seminars and the like for three (3) years. So, essentially if an auctioneer takes advantage of the education opportunities in the first three years, there is no cost to be a member.

“Regular” memberships are otherwise $300 for 1 year, or discounted for multiple year payments: $535 (2 years), $725 (3 years). There are also other “types” of memberships which are lesser in cost, and a payment plan, spreading out annual dues to more manageable amounts.

NAA says that membership has many benefits, such as:

    1. Auctioneer magazine
    2. Auction E-News email newsletter
    3. Industry Insights Webinars
    4. Annual Conference & Show
    5. NAA Education Institute and various designations
    6. Online Networking and Mentoring Forum
    7. NAA Knowledge Center
    8. Auction Calendar and AuctionMLS.com
    9. Buyer’s Guide
    10. Discounted Advertising
    11. Waiting for the Hammer to Fall, A General Overview of Auction Law
    12. Free Website Development and Hosting
    13. NAA Credit Card and Free Check Recovery Program
    14. Discounted E-Mail Distribution and Marketing Services
    15. FedEx Shipping Program
    16. Freight Shipping Program: FedEx Freight, UPS Freight, YRC

While I concur that the Auctioneer magazine is excellent, the designation classes are second to none and the Annual Conference & Show is outstanding, I find three, alternative, basic benefits which are central for most NAA members:

  1. Learning from other NAA members. Because the NAA has members from throughout the United States and other countries, members are more inclined to share, including details about their own businesses and practices. Further, these discussions can often times take place face-to-face where sharing becomes easier and more prevalent.

  2. Developing relationships with other NAA members. Not only can such relationships lead to actual business, but grow into friendships. Further, such relationships and friendships are based upon a shared passion about the auction business. Need help with an auction? Have a question about an auction? Members have friends they can call … day or night.

  3. Opportunities to, “pay forward.” Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes, said, ” …try to take that attitude toward life, that you’re going to pay forward. So seldom can we pay back …” The NAA provides members a unique stage to mentor other members, make presentations, give speeches, teach classes and help guide the association itself. This facet of membership provides members the satisfaction of helping other members, and as such the auction industry as a whole.

Quite frankly, if an auctioneer isn’t …

  • Interested in learning from some of the best auctioneers in the business
  • Looking to befriend some of the best auctioneers in the business
  • Desirous to help other auctioneers and the auction industry

Then NAA membership may not be a prudent expense.

However, if an auctioneer is interested in learning, befriending and helping, the National Auctioneers Association provides auctioneer members the only nationwide (and to some extent, worldwide) organization of like-minded auctioneers to accomplish such goals.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton said,

    “So closely interwoven have been our lives, our purposes, and experiences that, separated, we have a feeling of incompleteness — united, such strength of self-association that no ordinary obstacles, difficulties, or dangers ever appear to us insurmountable.”

NAA members tend to agree.

Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, Keller Williams Auctions and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. His Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/mbauctioneer. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at Columbus State Community College and is Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School.