APA/AICP Membership

I'm in a predicament that requires guidance! My employer has had a policy of paying for APA and AICP dues. As of 2009, due to budget cuts, it was decided that they would only pay for half. That's fine; however, when I submitted my APA/AICP invoice (due December 31, 2008), they told me that there was no money available at the present, that accounting has frozen every department's budget, and that they will pay for half (as well as cash my check for the other half) when the budget becomes unfrozen.

Flash forward to now, and the budget is still frozen. Both then and now, I've asked my employer if l should just go ahead and pay the entire bill; and when the account gets unfrozen, I can reimbursed for half. Both times I've asked, I've been discouraged to do that. Evdiently, the place I work doesn't look kindly on having to reimburse employees. They prefer to only pay outside entities.

My boss said that there is no need to worry because he feels that with APA/AICP--they will send several late notices/payment due notices.(He's AICP, himself). December 31 was the initial due date, and I received one that said February 2nd was the last and final bill. So here are my questions:

1. Is APA bluffing, and is my boss, in fact, correct in that APA will take a late payment and reinstate APA/AICP if I pay by, say, February 28 (two full mos past the original due date).

2. Despite all the placating by my boss, should I just go ahead and pay for the full thing now; and when the bill comes, work it out so that I'm reimbursed for my amount owed to me?

3. Should I just ride it out, and if the budget doesn't get around to being unfrozen and I lose my AICP status--should I file a suit in small claims court?

4. Does anyone definitively know just how long APA/AICP goes without a payment before completely suspending membership status? Obviously, I'm particularly worried about losing AICP.

Thanks for your thoughts!