What’s the benefit? Information and referral (I & R) professionals require fast, dependable ways to communicate with people who are in need of support services. Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS) members can now conduct business more efficiently with the help of discounted two-way text services. The benefit, offered through Educational Message Services, gives members the option to use short text codes instead of full telephone numbers.

Why it works for members: Short text codes help I&R professionals better connect with people who are more likely to text than to pick up a phone. They also have fewer digits to remember (e.g., ABC123) and form an instant association with the organization. “Over the past few years AIRS has been encouraging members to provide I&R through additional channels (such as chat, email, and text) to meet changing communication preferences and new demographics,” AIRS President Joan Phelps told members in a newsletter.

Other perks: AIRS offers three levels of membership, with benefits ranging from special member rates on telephone interpretation; access to the AIRS Networker, a members-only social-networking site; and discounts for online printing.

(pressureUA/ThinkStock)