WSAE & Associations West Consider Merger

The Washington Society for Association Excellence (WSAE) Board of Directors voted in September to pursue a merger with Associations West (AW, formerly CalSAE). While this was a difficult decision, we are confident that with your participation, this will be the right choice.  This vote signaled the beginning of a member-informed process, not a completed merger. While the legal structure takes the form of an acquisition, the intent is to unite Washington professionals with a larger regional network. Your input will shape how that happens.

Over the next several weeks, we will gather feedback from you through town hall style meetings and a survey. A Merger Task Force composed of leadership from both associations will incorporate your feedback into the final proposal. In December, WSAE members will vote on whether to accept the final proposal, including the formal dissolution of WSAE as part of the legal transition into Associations West.

Here is a series of resources to answer many of the questions you may have.

• View a video announcement from President Monette Anderson, A Message from Monette.
• For details on the board’s process and decision, read President Monette Anderson’s Washington Confluence magazine article, WSAE’s Next Act: A Decision That Belongs to You.
• Associations West began as CalSAE in 2002 when three of the four regional societies in California merged. Since then, the fourth California-based society joined in 2009. Oregon also joined in 2022 and Nevada in 2025. Learn more about their growth in the Associations West Story.
• Together, the merged organizations will provide expanded member benefits that far exceed what WSAE could provide on its own. Find details about those benefits in the WSAE Expanded Benefits Summary.
• As a new region of Associations West, Washington will have a regional council to provide proper representation overall and play a significant role in local programming and services. Washington members will sit on the council and can participate in any of the other AW committees. Learn more about the Role of the Regional Council and other Volunteer Opportunities.
• AW recently added a new board position for 2026/27, and Washington members will be encouraged to apply when a special application window opens up in January. The election will be held in March, and the 2-year term will begin on July 1, 2026.

Current Timeline:

• April 2025: WSAE Board of Directors hires an Interim Executive Director to assist as it considers the society’s future.
• April-September: WSAE Board considers options, including asking Associations West to submit a proposal. Both Boards approve the pursuit of a merger.
• October: Announcement of merger plans to WSAE and AW members.
• October-November: Merger Task Force meets.
• October-November: Survey for WSAE and AW member feedback. Give us your feedback now - survey closes on October 30.
• November 12: In-person Town Hall in Bellevue. Details and register here.
• November 17: Remote Town Hall for WSAE members. Details and register here.
• November 21: Remote Town Hall for AW members. Details and register here.
• December: AW and WSAE Boards of Directors vote on the final proposal prepared by the Merger Task Force.
• December 15: WSAE Members vote on the final proposal and dissolution of WSAE.
• March 1: Merger takes effect.

This is an important moment for our community, and your voice matters. We are proud of what our WSAE friends and colleagues have built. WSAE professionals and partners represent an engaged, values-driven network that genuinely supports one another. This merger represents the next step in building that legacy. By joining Associations West, Washington association professionals gain a wider platform, expanded benefits, and greater influence across the region.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping shape what comes next. Your participation in the town halls and member survey. ensures that the proposal reflects the needs and priorities of Washington members. The survey closes on October 30.

With best wishes and warmest regards,

Monette Anderson, CAE, WSAE Board of Directors President
Andrew Estep, CAE, WSAE Interim Executive Director