It is not so important the specific professional organizations to which one belongs, but rather one's activity in the organization and his or her willingness to get involved and contribute to it. The relevance of a professional organization to a member of the ED staff is only as valid as the level of participation by that member in the professional organization. Membership in any organization, including a professional organization, is a contractual two-way street. The individual or the group of individuals gives something to the professional organization and the professional organization gives something back to the individual or the group of individuals. The relationship is only as strong a link as the effort that both parties are willing to commit. There are also many instances in which individuals in the ED are passive beneficiaries or recipients of activities and functions of a professional organization because the professional organization provides benefits to all members of a class without requiring membership. An excellent example of this is national legislation and the regulations that follow, such as EMTALA and Medicare funding. Professional organizations can play many roles in the EDs of America. Their relative applicability and need depends entirely on the unique characteristics of each ED and its staff.