A New Digital Chapter Begins
The May Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Reno has begun a fresh era of service and digital convenience to its members. In partnership with Cuseum, the May Arboretum now delivers digital membership cards and a unified online portal that places every benefit right on their member's smartphone.
Other cultural institutions such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium, Blank Park Zoo, and the University of Michigan Alumni Association have already embraced this technology, showing how forward-looking cultural sites are turning phone screens into the new membership hub.
Rooted in Reno, Growing Beyond
Established in the mid-1980s, the Wilbur D. May Arboretum has grown from three to thirteen acres and now shelters more than four thousand six hundred native and adaptive plants. The high desert site welcomes more than 100,000 visitors every year and doubles as an outdoor classroom for schools.
Long-standing membership in the American Public Garden Association underscores their commitment to professional standards and steady innovation, making this digital leap a welcome progression.
Member Power in the Palm of Their Hands
With the new Member Portal, their supporters jump in through a single magic link, no usernames, no password resets, and land on a personal dashboard. From there they can update contact details, download tickets, share guest passes, and explore exclusive content on their own schedule, shrinking the help desk queue and giving staff cleaner, up to date data.
On the mobile wallet side, every visitor now carries a live digital membership card in their Apple or Google Wallet. The pass refreshes itself whenever benefits change and delivers gentle renewal nudges or special offers straight to the lock screen, boosting loyalty while eliminating the plastic, postage, and headaches of traditional cards.
Efficiency Meets Ecology
Switching to digital membership also removes the steady cost of plastic printing and postal mail, freeing resources for plant care and community programs. The move cuts paper and plastic waste, supporting society’s sustainability goals. Most importantly, it tightens the bond between the garden and the visitor.
Join the Digital Garden
Cultural sites everywhere are searching for ways to cut costs and keep audiences close. Digital membership tackles these issues. If your organization wants the same clarity between mission and technology, connect with Cuseum to explore what a digital-first approach can do for you.