@TomSrOfBoston Many bar associations are in bad shape financially. A lot of attorneys do not see the need/benefit of being a member of one. Local bar associations often have the toughest time attracting members. Local associations are merging with each other (county associations merging with city associations, etc) to stay around.
Per the link below, the bar association she was president of has 27 members. I suspect she was selected president by volunteering to do so because no one else was interested. At that point, you don’t want to ask too many questions lest you be searching for a president because you found out the only person willing to serve isn’t qualified.
http://www.pabar.org/CountyDir/index.asp?county=48
You do not need to be a member of a bar association to be a licensed attorney or to practice law legally. Most attorneys I know are not members of bar associations because there no longer is a perceived benefit that justifies the cost (and many firms will not pay dues unless the attorney is an active member). Now you still must pay licensing/registration fees to some state agency (often the state supreme court) to have a valid license.
Several large firms were caught with attorneys (sometimes partners) who did not hold valid licenses (for a variety of reasons ranging from never having sat for/passed a bar exam (or never attending law school much less graduating) to never having applied for a license). To prevent the issues that result, firms now submit license renewals and pay fees directly rather than having attorneys handle that on their own. Helps insure fees are actually paid. Also helps flush out anyone who does not have a license (supreme court will bounce back).