The professional association has been a mainstay of the business world since the great artisan guilds, and before.
Until recently, associations used chapter meetings, newsletters, publications, and the occasional convention tocreate community among members.  Associations mainly functioned as a one way broadcasting medium to their members, and often offered some other member benefits - discounts, credit cards, resources etc.
The web changed the way we communicate with each other, and web 2.0 has changed the way we collaborate with each other and also how we leverage information in our lives.  
Web 2.0 has come late to many association websites, but when it does, it has the potential to make or break a professional association.
This is the first of a series of articles on how to use open source software to develop an association website.  I will use as a reference point, the BMA Chicago website, as I was privileged to be the principal strategist for the redevelopment of the site.
What follows is an attempt to create transparency regarding the strategic thinking, and the use of Drupal, an OpenSouce content management system, to create a typical professional association website.