Why do we join an organisation or association?

I have often been asked “What do you get from joining a business organisation or community association?”

My answer is simple. I do not join merely for business or personal benefits.

For me, membership is about belonging, contribution, purpose and service.

Business organisations: More than business

A business organisation advances business interests. Members naturally seek opportunities, networks, partners, markets and commercial possibilities.

But it should be more than a platform for members to seek business from one another.

A strong business organisation enables collective advancement. Members can share knowledge, contacts, opportunities and ideas while addressing common challenges.

It can advocate better policies, promote trade and investment, support entrepreneurs, and build bridges between businesses, government, investors and markets.

Therefore, membership should not merely ask: What business can I get? Perhaps the more important question is: What can I contribute?

Opportunities, networking, referrals and partnerships matter. Greater value comes when members build a stronger business ecosystem together.

Membership allows me to meet people, exchange ideas, share experiences and contribute to something larger than myself.

I am not rich in money, but rich in experience, ideas and resourcefulness.

Knowledge and experience become more valuable when shared. An idea grows when shared, discussed, challenged and improved.

Community organisations: The responsibility to give back

Community organisations are different.

Their purpose is not primarily commercial. They serve people, strengthen communities, preserve identity and promote welfare.

For me, community membership is fundamentally about service.

I do not ask:

What can I get from the community?

I ask:

What can I give to the community?

We are beneficiaries of sacrifices made by those before us. We inherited opportunities created by previous generations through schools, institutions and communities.

At some point, we must ask: What are we going to give back?

Giving back does not necessarily mean giving money.

Sometimes we give time, knowledge, experience, encouragement or simply stand with people in difficult times.

Service is not measured only by the size of one’s financial contribution.

A person may have little money but possess knowledge, experience, energy and compassion. These contributions can change lives.

Different purposes, different expectations

Business and community organisations serve different purposes.

A business organisation is driven mainly by economic objectives—trade, investment, entrepreneurship, development and market access.

A community organisation is driven by social objectives—service, welfare, education, culture, identity and development.

Expectations should differ.

In a business organisation, it is reasonable to expect opportunities, networking and commercial benefits.

In a community organization, the reward may not be financial.

It may be helping a student believe in himself, strengthening a community, preserving culture or language, or contributing to our children’s future.

Some rewards cannot be measured in ringgit and sen.

The danger of becoming only a ‘benefit seeker’

There is nothing wrong with seeking benefits. Organisations must provide value.

An organisation that provides no value will lose relevance and confidence.

But there is a difference between seeking benefits and creating value.

If everyone joins an organisation asking only, “What can I get?”, the organisation will eventually become weak. But if members also ask, “What can I contribute?”, the organisation can become powerful.

Strong organisations are built by members who contribute time, ideas, skills, networks, experience and commitment.

Members are not merely passengers; they also help steer the vehicle.

My personal philosophy

My philosophy is simple: I want to belong to organisations with purpose. In a business organisation, I want to strengthen the platform for businesses and entrepreneurs. In a community organisation, I want to serve and give back.

I want to share my knowledge and experience, help where I can, and learn from others.

One need not be rich to contribute. Some valuable contributions do not come from the wallet.

They come from the mind, the heart and the willingness to serve.

This is why I often describe myself as a candle.

A candle burns itself to provide light for others. It does not ask who benefits; it simply fulfils its purpose.

That is how I see service.

I am a candle that burns itself to illuminate others. It becomes smaller as it burns, but provides light. Perhaps that is the meaning of life — not how much we accumulate but how much light we bring to others.

The principle of excellence

Contribution alone is not enough. We should strive to do whatever we choose well. Whether in a business organisation, community association, professional body or government agency, we should not merely occupy a position.

We should add value to it.

We should not simply be present. We should be useful.

We should not merely carry a title. We should carry responsibility.

We should not only ask whether an organisation benefits us but whether our presence benefits it.

This is why I live by a simple principle:

Whatever you do, be the best.

Being the best does not mean being the most powerful, richest or most prominent. Sometimes it simply means giving our best effort, being dependable, honest, generous with knowledge and sincere in service. It means leaving an organisation, community or person better than we found them.

The true value of membership

Ultimately, membership is measured not only by what we receive but what we contribute.

A business organisation becomes meaningful when members create opportunities for one another. A community organisation becomes meaningful when members serve people who need help.

A member becomes truly valuable when he or she understands that membership is not merely a privilege.

It is also a responsibility.

We should benefit from the organisations we join but also help make them stronger.

We should receive knowledge but share it; receive opportunities but create them, receive support but support others and

enjoy our community while contributing to it.

Our lives should be measured not only by what we accumulate but by the lives we touch, people we help, knowledge we share and institutions we strengthen.

I may not be rich in money, but I am rich in experience.

If my experience can help another person, strengthen an organisation or serve a community, it should not be kept to myself.

Knowledge that is not shared may remain personal. But knowledge that is shared can become a legacy.

Perhaps that is why I joined.

Not merely to ask:

What can I get?

But also:

What can I give?

For I am, after all, only a candle.

And if I have light, I will continue to burn — not for myself alone, but to illuminate others.

Whatever you do, be the best.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at [email protected]