JEFFERSON CITY- The National Society of Professional Engineers’ new membership model became effective on July 1st. The new model sets a uniform dues structure of $299 for three-tier (NSPE/MSPE/Local Chapter) members for renewals and anyone new joining the association. For Missouri, this will reduce the three-tier membership level from $360 to $299, a $61 drop in annual dues. There are other financial benefits for MSPE too. As part of the new model, societies are not able to allow new “state-only” two-tier members for anyone joining after July 1st. Existing state-only MSPE members, also known as associate members, will be able to continue as “grandfathered” members. Because MSPE is an active association with a full staff, the association will actually retain a higher percentage of the dues share with NSPE. The membership model has generated a lot of discussion over the past two years across the nation. State societies were asked to individually decide whether they wanted to “integrate” or “non-integrate” into the new national model. Seeing the benefits of the new model, Missouri voted to integrate. Only four of the 52 state and territorial societies voted to non-integrate. NSPE is still considering adding a government rate in the near future. “This is a great opportunity for Missouri,” explained MSPE Executive Director Travis Lowe. “Our members’ dues will drop 17% while most associations are having to increase dues to account for increased costs and inflation. Also, MSPE will receive a larger share of the dues split with NSPE, which allows us to do more with that money at the local level. A strong MSPE and NSPE is good for all licensed professional engineers. We aware are of licensure threats and other concerns across the nation. With the dues price reduction, it is a great time to recruit your fellow engineers.”