1. Are there ways to save on membership fees?

Yes. Members who choose multi-year renewals enjoy meaningful savings compared to annual renewal.

Associate Member (AM)

* 1 year: S$350 per year

* 2 years: S$600 total, “payment in full”

You save S$100 overall

Average of S$300 per year

* 5 years: S$1,350 total, “payment in full”

You save S$400 overall

Average of S$270 per year

Professional Member (PM)

* 1 year: S$390 per year

* 2 years: S$630 total, “payment in full”

You save S$150 overall

Average of S$315 per year

* 5 years: S$1,500 total, “payment in full”

You save S$450 overall

Average of S$300 per year

Why choose a multi-year membership?

For members:

* Lower average membership cost per year

* Price certainty and protection against future fee adjustments

* Fewer renewals to manage, with uninterrupted access to benefits

* A clear commitment to personal and professional growth within APSS

For APSS:

* Greater financial stability and predictability

* Ability to plan programmes, venues, and partnerships more effectively

* Reduced administrative overhead, allowing more resources to be directed toward member value

Multi-year memberships create a win-win outcome, offering better value for members while enabling APSS to serve the community more sustainably.

2. Why are membership fees increasing now after so many years?

APSS membership fees have remained unchanged for over 20 years.

Over this time, our programmes, venues, and member experiences have grown in scale and quality, and operating costs have increased accordingly.

While APSS is currently financially healthy, we believe membership fees should sustainably support ongoing operations rather than rely on reserves. Making a modest adjustment now allows us to plan responsibly for the next 5–10 years and avoid the need for larger increases later.

3. If APSS has healthy reserves, why not use them instead of raising fees?

Our reserves are intended to safeguard the association during unexpected situations and to support strategic investments.

Using reserves to fund day-to-day operations is not sustainable in the long term. As good stewards of the association, the ExCo’s goal is for regular programmes to be supported by membership fees, while keeping reserves intact to ensure stability and future growth.

4. Why is the increase applied only to Associate Members (AMs) and not Professional Members (PMs)?

Professional Members actively contribute to the community through mentoring, supporting initiatives such as Speakers Academy, and volunteering at events.

These contributions strengthen the learning experience and overall value of APSS for all members. In recognition of this service-based role, the PM fee will remain unchanged for now.

5. How was the new AM fee decided?

The ExCo reviewed several years of financial data and projected costs over the next 5–10 years, including venues, production, and member programming.

The new fee of S$350 was selected as a modest and sustainable adjustment that supports ongoing operations while keeping APSS highly affordable compared to similar professional associations.