1. www.swcs.org Conservation Leadership Workshop Welcome Theo Dillaha President SWCS

2. www.swcs.org Outline Finances Membership Initiatives Summary and Conclusions

3. Finances The Society is financially sound but we live pretty close to the edge. We need to diversify our income sources and dues need to pay for more of the basic operation. Declining membership and the resulting decrease in dues is a challenge.

4. Finances

5. www.swcs.org Financial Issue Can we afford a lower cost membership category without a subscription to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (JSWC)? ItemExpense Printing (6 issues/year @$1.14/issue)$6.84 Mailing (6 issues/year) @ $0.50/issue)$3.00 Total/member-year$9.84 Is a new membership category that would provide a savings of $9.84/year realistic? $70 versus $80 for a Conservationist membership? Can we afford to change the dues structure? More likely, dues will soon go up as we have not adjusted for inflation in three years.

6. www.swcs.org Membership Membership is a continuing challenge. Membership peaked at 14,000 in the 1980s. We are now down to around 5000 & approximately 1000 are non-dues paying.

7. www.swcs.org Membership Solutions? Member survey said people joined because members asked them to join. Members need to be actively recruiting new members if we are to reverse this trend.

8. www.swcs.org Member Survey Results One-third members for ≤ 5 years Average member age = 49 years Employers: Federal government 53.1% (NRCS≈ 50%) Colleges or university 9.5% Retired 9.2% State, provincial7.6%

9. www.swcs.org Member Survey Results Reasons for joining SWCS: Encouraged by a member 59% Professional development54% To promote conservation50% Networking opportunities43% Gain new skills/knowledge38% Leadership/volunteer opportunities20% Members who have not asked anyone to join in last 3 years 43% Members have got to become recruiters because members tell us that’s the number one reason they joined.

10. www.swcs.org Strategic Planning May 9-11, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa Participants (28)

11. www.swcs.org Strategic Planning Goals 1.Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 2.Improve our ability to quickly respond to emerging conservation issues and opportunities. 3.Create a new member recruiting infrastructure to increase membership. Strategic plan timeline: Develop implementation plans and/or implement by Nov. 15, 2007.

12. www.swcs.org Strategic Planning Goals 5.Re-examine the SWCS Board structure and recommend alternative structures that are more responsive to governance and development needs. 6.Identify alternative mechanisms for SWCS to respond to and implement special projects. 7.Develop a planned giving program to improve the financial status of SWCS.

13. www.swcs.org Summary & Conclusions We face many challenges, particularly with respect to membership and finances. Keep informed by reading the Conservogram. The national organization and Chapters must work together to address these challenges. Need to involve members who are not active in Chapters in national activities.

14. www.swcs.org Questions?