What is it? Private communities are nothing new in the association space, but it’s always nice to have a fresh take on one. The American College of Radiology (ACR), a group with 37,000 members, is aiming for just that with the launch of its new Engage platform—which includes a full member directory, a variety of different forums, and a detailed resource library.

Why it works: Sometimes, it’s the amount of effort put into a private community that makes it uniquely valuable to members. ACR CEO William T. Thorwarth Jr., M.D., says that Engage is well suited to becoming an essential resource for its broad community. “Engage represents a unique opportunity for ACR members to interact with each other to share information and solve practical problems,” Thorwarth said in a news release. “Members will be able to connect in a variety of self-selected open communities, while closed communities will facilitate the work of our commissions and committees.”

Other perks: The benefits of joining ACR, like many other medical societies, are broad. Among the more practical perks are offerings from ACR’s Benefits Plus program, including discounts on UPS shipping, membership in Starwood Hotels’ Preferred Business tier, and a lower rate on student-loan refinancing.