Yeah, what a scam to take peoples membership money and use it to organize conferences, lobby regulators, provide a resource for business and the press, to provide a space to coordinate the volunteer efforts of dozens of people who actually do something. Wow such scam! Only a doggy based coin could save us now. 
Actually this is what makes the scam more perfect. You're covering it up by 'using' money for this, while you're actually taking more for yourself.