What provides three tiers of options, a wealth of business-related benefits and a tremendous cost savings to self-storage operators? Attendees to next week's Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas are about to find out; but you'll get a sneak peek if you read on.

At the beginning of the year, I gave you a list of "Five ISS Greats to Anticipate in 2011." One of these is coming to fruition next month and will be previewed at the Vegas show. Im delighted to announce the launch of Inside Self-Storage Membership Program, which will provide industry managers and owners three tiers of packaged benefits at an extraordinary value. Ill provide more about the contents of these packages shortly, but first, some insight as to how we got here.  

Professionals of our business often think of Inside Self-Storage as an association. Ive been asked by many readers and expo attendees over the years how they can become members of ISS. Technically, were not an association. What we are is a dynamic services provider that creates educational resources for the industry. Until now, our audience could engage with usread our magazine, attend our shows, watch our webinars, use our website, etc.but it was not possible for them to officially join ISS.

Then enough of you asked the question: Why not? Indeed!

ISS is owned by an information-distribution company called Virgo. We are neither a not-for-profit organization nor a registered lobbying entity before the U.S. Congress. We are not active in self-storage legislation (though we do report on it and support industry associations in disseminating related information). That said, ISS does provide many of the resources businesspeople expect to receive from an association: publications, websites, trade events, online training courses, live educational seminars, webinars, reports, newsletters, an online community and much more.

So why shouldnt ISS have members? We should! And I invite you to become one.

The new ISS Membership Program will officially launch and be available at www.insideselfstorage.com starting April 15. Those of you at the show next week will have an opportunity to pre-register. For everyone who does so, a donation of $20 will be made to Wounded Warrior Outdoors, a non-profit organization devoted to improving the lives of U.S. and Canadian combat-wounded soldiers.

ISS Members can choose from three levels of benefits: Manager Pro, Business Marketing and Total Business. Each contains a healthy selection of resources, products and services that will help self-storage operators run a better business and save money. Offerings include those from ISS as well as our three vendor partners: Michaels Wilder, Universal Insurance Facilities Inc. and A Top Shop! They include print and online marketing services, online and live education, publications, mystery shopping, insurance resources and discounts, human resources services and much more.

For a complete explanation of benefits, come see us at the expo. You can visit ISS booth (#107) in the exhibit hall or stop by the ISS subscription booth in the expo registration area. Not attending? Watch the ISS website for details. If you normally receive e-mails from us, youll get a personal invitation to become a member in April.

I look forward to our new relationship. Join ISS, and enjoy the benefits of membership. Questions? Contact me at [email protected].