According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of an association is “an organization of persons having a common interest; the state of being associated, to join or connect together.” Thus, by their very definition, associations are social organizations. Associations aim to create connections between people with similar goals and interests. Successful association executives know the value of connection through networks. When people connect, share experiences, and trade resources

Defining who we are and what holds us together is an ancient human impulse. Back to the earliest days of recorded human history, the stories we have told each other for centuries help to establish and maintain a sense of community. The ancient Greeks had their lists of heroes who fought at the Trojan War, the Hebrew scriptures tell of the covenant of Moses, the Kojiki tells of the creation of Japan and the establishment of the Emperors, and countless other groups of people ha