Over the decades, the American Angus Association^® has been working to gradually transition business processes to paperless. These efforts have been in pursuit of two goals – better serve the membership in a more timely and efficient manner, and ensure the responsible use and allocation of member dollars.  

The Digital Age 

The effort can be traced to key moments in Angus history, including the first online registration completed in 1999. A decade later, nearly 69% of registrations were done online. Today, less than five percent of registrations are processed by paper. 

Following closely behind that transition was the launch of AAA Login, which has become the hub for member business. Today a majority of members manage their herd inventory, register or transfer cattle, submit data, order DNA testing and access their work history with the Association through Login. 

Another high-impact implementation was the ability to offer electronically stored certificates. Members have the option today to store their registration papers in Login, reducing the stacks of papers piling up in their ranch office and cutting down the turnaround time on transfers. This remains an optional preference which can be opted-into under My Account. In Fiscal Year 2025, 70% of records were stored electronically. 

In recent years, staff has also turned to modernizing internal processes which reduce the shuffle of paper records across the desks of our Member Services team. 

Paper by the Numbers 

Today, billing statements, invoices and suspense letters account for one of the largest, collective uses of paper within the Member Services department. Broken down, in an average year, the team sends out roughly:  

• 11,000 Billing Statements by Mail  
• 23,000 Invoices by Mail 
• 38,000 Suspense Letters by Mail 

When you tally that up, it's nearly 72,000 printed items. 

The Next Paperless Effort 

As a result of a recent Board of Directors discussion, the Association plans to transition Association business to paperless preferences. This switch, planned for June 2026, is an effort to serve the membership in a more timely and efficient manner. No longer will delays or lost mail impact members’ business needs. 

All memberships with an email on file and an AAA Login account will be switched to paperless, including invoicing and suspense letters. This change includes all business conducted with the Association, AGI^® and AngusMedia℠ (API). Regardless of current paperless preferences, members can access their work history with the Association and its entities in their Login account with the ability to view suspense items, print invoices and pay a balance.   

Members who wish to continue to receive paper communication will be able to Opt-Out by contacting the Member Services team at angus@angus.org prior to June. There will be no additional fee for paper billing.   

Resources for conducting business through AAA Login will be available and communicated in the coming months via member communication platforms.   

Related Links: 

February 2026 Board of Directors Meeting Update 

Electronic Storage of Certificate