1. Conducting a Membership Campaign 1

2. AER International Overview O The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) develops and promotes professional excellence through support of those who provide services to people with visual impairments. O AER is the only international membership organization dedicated to rendering all possible support and assistance to the professionals who work in all phases of education and rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired children and adults. 2

3. Current AER Membership O Approximately 4,000 (peak was 5,200 in 2008) Primarily U.S. & Canada Others: England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Bermuda, Israel, New Zealand, Denmark, Singapore O Largest chapters Texas, Northeast, New York, Penn-Del, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Northern California, Kentucky, North Carolina 3

4. Membership Types O Regular Member ($170/year) - A full-voting membership open to anyone living in the U.S. or Canada, and includes all AER periodicals. O International Member ($170/year) - A voting membership open to persons living outside the U.S. or Canada, and includes all AER periodicals. O Same Residential Household Member ($143/year) - A voting membership open to an additional member residing in the same residential household as a current Regular AER member. O Retired Member ($93/year) - A voting membership for anyone who has retired from a career in the field and includes all AER periodicals. 4

5. Membership Types (cont.) O Support/Clerical Member ($93/year) - A voting membership category for individuals who are working in positions of paraprofessional or clerical support, and includes AER periodicals. O Student Member ($93/year) - A full-voting membership open to students in the U.S. or Canada, and includes all AER periodicals. O Transition Member ($139/year) – Upon graduation, current student members are eligible for a one-year Transition Member category, which provides the same member benefits as the Regular Member category. O Associate Member ($93/year) - A non-voting membership category for anyone who is not employed in the field or who is preparing for employment in the field. Includes AER Report only. Note: AER Board voted to raise member rates every two years by a small percentage. 5

6. AER International Office O Staff of four, one vacant position O Membership database Contact and payment information on current members, lapsed members, prospects Continuing education credits O Annual Recruitment Campaign(s) In 2014 – Spring / Fall marketing effort targeting lapsed members 6

7. Recruitment Steps: Who, What, When, Where, and How? O Who will you target? O What will you offer as an incentive to join? O When will you stage your recruitment campaign? O Where will you talk to potential members? O What means will you use to contact potential members? 7

8. Who: Audience? O International/Central Office Chapter lists from conferences Lapsed members Internet research Member recommendations Direct inquiries O Chapters Lapsed member list from AER office Prospects by state/province Chapter member co-workers Students, retirees, agency administrators 8

9. What: Benefits? O Professional development and networking opportunities Chapter conferences and meetings are considered to be the most valuable benefit of AER membership International Conference (and other educational meetings) provide continuing education benefits 9

10. What: Benefits? O Interest-specific divisions AER has 15 interest-specific divisions that connect specialists Most of these divisions have listservs for individualized discussions O Publications AER Report Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness from AFB AER Viewpoint - Weekly newsletter Books 10

11. What: Benefits? O Professional Development AER Knowledge Center AER Job Exchange Mangold Distance Education Webinar Series Chapter/International/Division Events O Other Awards Scholarships Liability insurance Shop.com, travel discounts Many chapters offer special incentives 11

12. When and Where? O Annual chapter conference O International or division conference O Staff meetings O Other vision-related conferences, workshops, an meetings O Other local event 12

13. How? O AER International & Chapters Telemarketing E-mail Direct mail Direct calling O Chapters One-on-one at meetings, etc. 13

14. Chapter Leadership Web Page O http://leadership.aerbvi.org/chapter_leaders.htm http://leadership.aerbvi.org/chapter_leaders.htm 14