Why Join a Professional Society?

In addition to the tangible benefits that members value, membership in a professional society offers individuals the opportunity to support or be actively involved in research, communications and programs in their field. The AMS is involved in activities that enable professionals to benefit both themselves and the mathematical community, now and in the future:

Meetings and conferences—providing the opportunity to participate in and attend presentations on research in mathematics and applied mathematics

Advocacy—participating with other societies and organizations in science policy initiatives

Outreach activities—offering employment services to graduate students; publishing reports, surveys, guides and other resources for math departments, authors, graduate students, and the professional community; supporting Young Scholars Programs through the Epsilon Fund

News publications—being a central source for news of interest and value to members, the profession and the general public

From the Executive Director of the AMS:

“Publish sensibly, discover constantly, travel extensively, talk widely, teach passionately. Do these things and mathematics becomes part of your life—not just a job, but a profession. What good are professional societies? They make it easier, in fact, they make it possible —to take this advice. Societies publish journals so that you can publish papers. They provide services such as Mathematical Reviews and CMP so that you can discover. They hold meetings and conferences that build community as well as research. They sustain professional development that fosters talking and teaching. They provide news and information that connects the various mathematics communities to each other and to the public. And they provide a way to share the responsibility for these activities among many mathematicians. They provide a framework in which mathematicians, both young and old, can be professionals.”
-- John Ewing, Executive Director, American Mathematical Society

From AMS members:

“The AMS is the glue that binds together the mathematical research community. It provides essential research infrastructure through such efforts as Mathematical Reviews and MathSciNet, while also serving as a prominent liaison between mathematicians and our counterparts in the political and educational arenas. The mathematics profession would be severely diminished without a strong AMS; it deserves the full support of every person who appreciates the beauty and importance of mathematics.”
-- Kevin A. Grasse, Chair, Department of Mathematics, University of Oklahoma, Norman

“AMS membership enables me to stay in touch with the larger mathematical community. Notices keeps me apprised of research conferences in my field of interest and lets me know what's going on outside my field. Sectional and Joint Mathematics Meetings are vital to my research and for keeping in touch with friends in the mathematical community.”
-- Annalisa Crannell, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

“The AMS is the main organization we have to encourage support of basic mathematical research at the national level. If this were it's only function, it would already be imperative to support it. But it does far more in its many activities. I find myself anticipating the arrival of the Notices and Bulletin with something close to the way I waited as a child for an eagerly awaited new book. The many conferences and workshops which the AMS supports are invaluable to the mathematics community. On occasion, it is easy to be frustrated with large organizations, feeling too much attention is being placed on administrative goals or raising revenues, but in the AMS I believe that the fundamental goal of encouraging mathematics is never far from sight. Supporting the AMS with both time and money is important and rewarding.”
--Craig Huneke, University of Kansas

“Every professional should belong to a professional society—a society that represents its members and works for the good of their profession. For many mathematicians, that society will be the American Mathematical Society.”
--Cathleen Morawetz, Courant Institute of the Mathematical Sciences, New York University

“For me AMS membership has always meant belonging to a worldwide community that strives to encourage and support quality research in mathematics, as well as its dissemination. AMS meetings and journals provide the possibility of doing this in a practical and cost-effective way which is truly unique. Supporting this through membership dues is really a small price to pay for all the benefits we receive but often fail to appreciate.”
--Alejandro Adem, University of Wisconsin, Madison

“It's important to me as an applied mathematician to participate in the broader mathematical community through AMS membership. I especially appreciate the attention the AMS pays to issues that are important to young mathematicians, such as the state of today's job market. These issues are addressed regularly in conferences and in AMS publications.”
--Catherine A. Roberts, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff

“To be a member of the AMS is paramount to staying in touch with mathematics and the mathematicians enriching it. At meetings and conferences organized by the AMS, I have the opportunity to discuss with colleagues from all over the world the latest developments in my fields of interest.”
--Peter Massopust, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

“I juggle a variety of responsibilities: teaching, research and private consulting. The services and programs of the American Mathematical Society are invaluable for all my professional activities. I especially depend upon AMS electronic resources, from the e-MATH Web site to the MathSci database, to provide timely, comprehensive information on all aspects of the mathematics profession.”
--Michael Monticino, University of North Texas, Denton