Gembrook Systems, a software development firm that has been in operation for 20 years, has come up with an intriguing new app for helping even small clubs look professional, run smoothly, and grow membership at the click of a mouse.

"Access to the Web makes some club paperwork obsolete, and geographical barriers easy to break," says Dan Ehrmann, co-creator of ClubExpress, Internet-based software to help manage and expand associations and clubs. "Most Americans belong to at least one membership organization, and today everybody has access to a computer."

That means Teri in Tucson can start a Schnauzer club with Peter in Poughkeepsie, even if they don't share the same zip code.

ClubExpress has a straightforward, streamlined sign-up process, so anyone can register a club in five minutes or less -- easy enough for Grandma's knitting circle to try. And Grandma gets a customized website, too, with easy member sign-up, communications tools, dues collection by credit card, event calendar, unlimited photos, even the ability to survey members.

Online club management makes running a club almost as easy as belonging to one. Treasurers and secretaries can spend less time on paperwork and more time building model airplanes or reading book lists like every other member. "Officers can go back to enjoying the club they joined," says Ehrmann. "As we say: more passion, less paperwork."

Less paperwork means more members volunteering to organize committees and special projects.

ClubExpress has helped improve clubs as diverse as the Fairlane Club of America (a car club with 3400 members worldwide), mothers' play groups, sporting clubs, realtor associations, plus local, regional, and national professional and trade groups. Here's the URL: http://www.clubexpress.com.