State associations: To join or not to join?

The purpose of joining a state association is to fund the association's missions regarding the protection of the integrity of the profession.  At least that's what the intention should be, but many people feel that this is not true.  There are beliefs that their association is run by people with their own agendas and not doing anything on the profession's behalf.  Associations complain that memberships are down and they do not have the funding needed to fight the necessary fights to do their job.  Conundrum:  How do we increase membership and income to associations when there is no faith in the association from reporters who have been disgruntled by the association's actions?