The Membership Committee is at the heart of ISSTD’s mission, working diligently to foster a thriving, connected, and engaged professional community. As Co-Chairs of the committee, Warwick Middleton and I, Abigail Percifield, are excited to share updates on what we’ve accomplished, what’s ahead, and how you can get involved.
Let’s start with some of the highlights from 2024. Last year, we achieved several milestones that reflect the vibrancy and growth of our organization. One of our biggest successes was the launch of the sponsorship program, which surpassed all expectations. This program has become a cornerstone of our efforts to make ISSTD membership accessible to professionals across the globe, particularly those who may face financial barriers regardless of where they live. If you’re inspired to contribute, consider donating to the sponsorship program at Membership Sponsorship Program.
We proudly celebrated reaching our highest number of organizational members ever, with a total of 11. This year, ISSTD welcomed its first Gold Organizational Member, Silver Hill Hospital, and its first university member, the Boston University School of Social Work. These milestones underscore the strength of partnerships and collaboration among ISSTD staff, committees, and board members, further expanding our influence in academic and professional circles. If you’d like to draft a proposal for your organization or university to become an organizational member, please reach out to Warwick or me. We’d be happy to connect you with others who have drafted successful proposals.
Another significant achievement was our collaboration with the Asia Regional Online Community to co-facilitate the largest member engagement meeting in ISSTD history. With 434 registrants and 96 participants, this event showcased ISSTD’s potential for global engagement. Expanding into more regions has been and continues to be a strong focus for ISSTD. We’re eager to support international growth and engagement and invite volunteers who are passionate about fostering connections in their regions to join us in this effort.
We’ve also made strides in enhancing the onboarding experience for new members. Under ISSTD Staff’s leadership, we developed professional onboarding videos that provide a welcoming and informative introduction to ISSTD. From survey responses, we’ve learned that members often struggle to fully access and utilize the many benefits ISSTD offers. These videos are a great way to explore how to get the most out of your membership—and a perfect resource if you feel you aren’t tapping into everything available.
Looking forward, there are exciting changes on the horizon for the Membership Committee. Starting in 2025, the Member Engagement Committee will be rolling into Membership. This integration reflects our commitment to a seamless member experience and will allow us to better support engagement and volunteer opportunities across ISSTD. If you’re someone who enjoys connecting with others and fostering engagement, we’d love to have you join us on the Membership Committee as we expand our efforts.
To accommodate these changes, we’ll be increasing our meeting frequency from four to six times per year, ensuring we have the time and space to address the needs of our growing community. We’re also planning quarterly member interest meetings—so stay on the lookout for emails about these events. They’re a perfect opportunity to learn more about ISSTD’s offerings, share them with your network, and explore ways to get involved.
Personalized outreach will continue to be a focus area, with targeted emails to members at risk of lapsing to remind them of the benefits of staying connected. We hope you’ll enjoy our personalized messages (even if your inbox is getting a workout!) as a friendly reminder that we value your membership and want to help you make the most of it.
Being part of ISSTD is more than a professional affiliation; it’s about joining a community of like-minded colleagues who are committed to advancing understanding, prevention, and treatment of trauma and dissociation. If you’ve ever thought about volunteering or taking on a more active role, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to Warwick or me—we’re always happy to chat about how you can get involved and make a difference.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to ISSTD. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected community for all who work in the trauma and dissociation field. Here’s to another successful year ahead!
Contact information:
ISSTD Membership Staff: membership@isst-d.org
Abigail Percifield: abigailpercifield@gmail.com.
Warwick Middleton: warmid124@gmail.com