Simply put, our Affiliation program is something we think is good for the industry, for our Association and for the various state associations. Some association demands are inherently local and require a grassroots approach. Others goals are national in scope, for the national SSA to be involved, we need affiliation. With approximately 55,000 facilities nationwide and more than 33,000 separate owners, the industry is already extremely fragmented. Only together can we adequately influence our business arena.

Affiliated states and their members, receive:

o CSSA members receive $50 coupon for use on any SSA publication, conference, workshop or seminar

o CSSA members receive annual subscription to the SSA Globe, an association-focused magazine.

o CSSA (the association) participation in Affiliated Associations Council Meetings.

o CSSA members receive access to ODE*SSA – previously only for SSA Direct members.

o CSSA receives legislative support and consulting.

The SSA has invested heavily into the development of the SSA Globe magazine. The SSA Globe is a non-profit publication that 1- Is the primary communications tool for regular and affiliate members; 2 – Supports the goals of the Association – education, research & data, legal matters and Affiliated association news. Additionally, State affiliates provide monthly write-ups in the SSA Globe Magazine to keep their members up to date on the latest information locally.

Members of state affiliates will have access to ODE*SSA, the online demand estimating tool that incorporates information from the database. It enables entrepreneurs/members to get a detailed statistical report of existing self storage, compared to actual population demographics within a 3 to 10 mile radius of any zip code in the country. This is not a free service, but is an invaluable tool to educated storage operators. The SSA does not make a profit from this service. Fees remitted simply help pay for the infrastructure and updating of the tool. Nobody is required to use it, but it is an option. Call our office today for additional information on ODE*SSA.

Between SSA General Counsel Carlos Kaslow, SSA President & CEO Mike Scanlon and Tim Dietz, the SSA's registered lobbyist, the SSA staff has more than 70 years of lobbying experience. Although most lobbying of state legislatures is handled by the state associations, the SSA can assist with their database to create grassroots supports, by providing connections with other affiliated states that have been through similar situations and through their communications tools. The SSA also provides financial aid to support lobbying efforts as needed via its Legislative Issues Fund. California received over $40,000 from the SSA in 2009 to help support our effort to Amend the current California Lien Law Statute.

The SSA also subscribes to Netscan –Legal Alert, which provides daily updates on threatening legislation throughout the country. If something pops up on their radar screen for California, they will alert the state associations executive director, leadership and membership.

Summary
The SSA affiliation program was developed to encourage cooperation amongst state SSAs and the National SSA. Our perspective is not one of competition with the National SSA, but of working together to benefit each other's members and the industry. Advertising, legislation, ODE*SSA, database access and AAC meetings all add up to a successful program, which is why the program has 25 organizations already affiliated and a few more on the way.