"NAA is on a quest to grow to 10 million units by the end of 2016. This goal is our commitment to grow the NAA Network at all levels, local, state and national; making us a more powerful resource and advocate for the industry."

Booming new construction, a personal letter from NAA and the NAA Lease Program helped the Apartment Association of Kansas City (AAKC) drive membership this year.

AAKC Association Executive Debbie Haukenberry mailed a letter in February from NAA's Midwest Region Liaison Kevin Watkins to her area's non-members that outlined the benefits of NAA and the value of state and local association membership.

Her team followed up during the next few weeks by personally delivering packets that included details about benefits such as education programs, meetings and government affairs advocacy. AAKC added 6,453 units, tops among mid-sized affiliates during this year's NAA 10 in 2 Membership Growth Challenge.

"Being able to send a letter to prospects that was written directly by NAA really helped," Haukenberry says. "And the NAA Lease was also a big part of our attraction. There is a lot of new construction in our area, and property owners who are used to offering the lease in other markets wanted to have it in Kansas City, too."

Top Performers

NAA Affiliate                                  Units Added

Diamond (10,000+)

Apt. Assn. of Metro Denver                        18,559

Washington Multi-Family Housing Assn.16,957

Chicagoland Apartment Assn.                    12,346

Rental Housing Assn. of Gr. Boston REB11,138

Apt. & Office Building Assn.                    10,348

Apt. Assn. of Greater Dallas                    10,083

Platinum (5,000-9,999)

Nevada State Apt. Assn.                          7,139

Arizona Multihousing Assn.                            6,934

Houston Apt. Assn.                                   6,459

Apt. Assn. of Kansas City                          6,453

Greater Gulf Coast Apt. Assn.                        6,347

Greater Charlotte Apt. Assn.                          5,897

Gold (2,500-4,999)

New York Capital Region Apt. Assn.                4,828

Atlanta Apt. Assn.                                   4,448

Detroit Metropolitan Apt. Assn.                   4,303

San Antonio Apt. Assn.                           4,101

Apt. Assn. of Greater Orlando                  3,911

Indiana Apt. Assn.                                        3,714

Greater Birmingham Apt. Assn.                      3,632

Gr. Cincinnati Nor. Kentucky Apt. Assn.   3,376

Utah Apt. Assn.                                            3,131

South East Florida Apt. Assn.                         3,074

Mobile Bay Area Apt. Assn.                            2,663

First Coast Apt. Assn.                           2,552

Silver (1,000-2,499)

Piedmont Triad Apt. Assn.                           2,462

Greater Toledo Apt. Assn.                             2,363

Austin Apt. Assn.                                         2,073

Gr. Springfield Apt. & Housing Assn.         2,017

Arkansas Apt. Assn.                                    1,803

Shreveport-Bossier Apt. Assn.                      1,784

Washtenaw Area Apt. Assn.                         1,663

Beaufort County Apt. Assn.                          1,641

Tulsa Apt. Assn.                                          1,601

Permian Basin Apt. Assn.                             1,427

PAA Central                                                1,314

Connecticut Apt. Assn.                                1,267

Upper State Apt. Assn.                                1,216

Apt. Assn. of Gr. New Orleans                       1,211

Nor Cal Rental Property Assn.                       1,204

Rio Grande Valley Apt. Assn.                        1,203

Apt. Owners & Managers Assn. of Wisc.         1,192

Property Mgmt. Assn. of Mid-Mich.                1,158

Capital City Apt. Assn.                         1,154

Baton Rouge Apt. Assn.                         1,134

Greater Iowa Apt. Assn.                              1,122

Victoria Apt. Assn.                                      1,087

Lubbock Apt. Assn.                                     1,083

Apt. Assn. of Central Oklahoma                   1,080

Saint Louis Apt. Assn.                                 1,066

Bryan College Station Apt. Assn.                  1,014