Membership Involvement Is the Key to Healthy Growth United States Power Squadrons District 8 Spring Conference 26 April 2008 D/Lt Anita F. Walker, P

2 Today’s Agenda Why – Why are new members so important What – What are the statistics How – How can we make this happen Appendix (review from the Fall Conference) When – When should the various actions happen Who – Who can/should lead and participate in getting/retaining new members Our goal is to improve membership involvement

3 People Join and Renew for Different Reasons Education – to take classes Boating Club (Fraternity/Fellowship) – to enjoy activities on and off the water with a group of people they like Community Service – to improve the boating education of the area Remember, we’re a volunteer organization

4 Why Don’t Members Stay? Some reasons are outside of our control Moving, illness, etc Different expectations Some reasons are within our control Not enough recognition or feeling part of the organization Not matching interests to activities Lack of communication: newsletters, personal follow-up Exclusionary behavior

5 Why Is It So Important to Keep Our Members? Take the Long View Do you have enough volunteers for bridge and committee positions? Do you have enough teachers and students for advanced grades and electives? What percent participate in social and community events? The path to the bridge or teaching often requires experience. Retaining members provides for future health

6 Healthy Growth Is the Key! Set Goals for Your Squadron Get the numbers (stay tuned, we’ll get to that in a minute) Examine the status of your availability, knowledge, skills and attitudes related to the goal What will achieving the goal cost in time, money, other resources of the squadron? What information can I get from members in our squadron, district or national Identify the people, both within the squadron and outside it, whose support you will seek in achieving the goal Analyze Present Situation Determine Obstacles List Inputs Utilize Available Information Build a Support Team Source: Operations Training, 2008

7 For You Formula Fans! There are two sources to retrieve your own information Go to the USPS home page (need your certificate number) Under the admin to membership Click on District reports and find your squadron Go to the Dues Database (Need your squadron number and password) rts/reports.php) rts/reports.php Let’s take a look at the most current numbers for our district

8 We Are Starting to See Improvements Across the District 1 Does not include Life members totals include Miami Beach and Everglades 3 April 07 - April YTD 5 06 and 07 non- renewals

9 Last Fall, We Used Pompano As an Example Non- Renewal New Net This is a dramatic change. Let’s talk about what we did differently and how we measure success

10 We Look at a Variety of Measurements Along With Net Membership Gain Interesting Notes from different people took an elective or advanced grade (7 were new members and 13 of the 32 did not attend a dinner meeting) 61% of members took a class or attended an event Our dinners averaged in 65 and more than 100 people attended the Change of Watch Interesting Notes from different people took an elective or advanced grade (11 were new members and 10 of the 34 did not attend a dinner meeting) 75% of members took a class or attended an event Our dinners averaged 74 and more than 125 people attended the Change of Watch Most of our non-renewals are in the 25% who did not participate at all. Don’t get discouraged, we can’t keep all of our members!

11 What Did We Do Differently? Took advantage of a change in USPS rules – passing a boating class Improved our follow-up Commander’s letter, COW invitations Follow-up phone calls Dinner seating, serving and set-up Thank you notes Recruited students Advanced Grades and electives Instructor Re-certification Operations Training You can do these things in your squadron

12 What Did We Do Differently? (cont) Expanded our activities District cocktail parties/events Rendezvous & other land events Tiki Bar Sebastian clamming event Tied all departments to membership involvement Combined the nominating process with membership involvement It’s okay to say ‘no’ What do you want to do – new proctors, instructors, major chairs Taught more electives

13 Why Is Participation Increasing? We introduced new members to as many veterans as possible Our new members’ enthusiasm was contagious We attempted to recognize all contributions – great and small We are inclusionary rather than exclusionary Event follow-up Personal invitations Last year, we formulated a plan and with the help of many, we ruthlessly executed it!!

14 Let’s Talk About Specific Actions to Increase New Member Involvement Educational opportunities – as some of our new people took OT, they wanted to take more classes New member follow-up ‘Dogs on the Dock’ and other new member specific activities Dinner meetings Executive Committee calls Which activities have you found successful?

15 Summary To continue to increase involvement and reduce non-renewals requires an organized effort by our Squadron Leadership – a plan We each need to develop and continue our plans that match the diverse needs of our membership with the variety of opportunities the Squadron offers

Appendix

17 Each Bridge Position Offers Opportunities for First, Second and Third Year Members Commander’s Department Commander’s Department Exec’s Department Exec’s Department Admin’s Department Admin’s Department Education Department Education Department Treasurer’s Department Treasurer’s Department Secretary’s Department Secretary’s Department Dinner W/the Commander Participate/ chair a Committee Coop Charting Change of Watch Participate/ chair a Committee Be an Assistant Write Articles Participate/chair a Committee Be an Assistant Proctor Take Courses Teach Courses Dinners Land/water Events Participate/ chair a Committee Be an Assistant

18 We Continued Passive Communication and Improved – Expanded Our Active Communication Passive Communication MARINER (our newsletter) Commander’s Letter Other mailings (Membership Involvement Event Invitation, COW, Thank-you notes) Active Communication Calling Committee Commander’s follow-up call Face to face discussions Greeting at Dinners Executive Committee Calling Asking for participation in a focused way Nominating Committee

19 Membership Involvement Is a Three Year Cycle, Not a Silver Bullet Small Time Commitment/Limited Experience (year 1**) Increasing Time Commitment and Experience (year 2**) Significant Time Commitment and Experience (year 3) Attend COWBecome a Committee MemberChair a Committee Assist W/coop ChartingBecome a Vessel Safety InspectorTake an Assistant or Bridge Position Assist W/boat Show And/or Other Outside Functions Take Operations TrainingTeach a Course Set Tables at a Dinner MeetingOrganize a Rendezvous or Other Land Event ** Some first or second year members may be qualified depending upon their experience when they joined the squadron – however, too much too soon can be a path to non-renewal/non- involvement Help Serve a DinnerProctor Attend a Dinner, Raft up or Other Land Event Take a Course Help W/rendezvous or Land EventWrite an Article Greet at a Dinner MeetingAttend a District Conference Make a Few Phone CallsJoin the Executive Committee

20 Practical Tips Action (The ‘How’)WhoWhen Commander’s Letter and follow-up callCommanderFirst Month Greet at Dinner Meeting/Invite to Commander’s Table, Ask to help serve dinner Commander, Admin, Bridge, Membership Involvement 2 to 3 Dinners Follow-up Call (details on next slide)Bridge, Executive Committee Initial 3 Months Ask to Proctor (if appropriate)Education Officer, BridgeInitial 3 Month follow- up Sponsor New Member/Membership Involvement Event Membership Involvement As Appropriate We need to look at 2008 for continuing to improve – Consistency!!

21 Many of the Executive Committee Make 2 Phone Calls Per Month New member just completed the Public Boating course New member just completed the Public Boating course New member transferred from another squadron New member transferred from another squadron New member may or may not have completed the Boating course New member may or may not have completed the Boating course Discuss Upcoming Classes Discuss Upcoming Classes Date of Dinner Invitation to Proctor Ask About the Mariner Ask About the Mariner Date of Other Events Date of Other Events Call 1 Discuss Upcoming Classes Discuss Upcoming Classes Date of Dinner Ask About the Mariner Ask About the Mariner Date of Other Events Date of Other Events Talk About Previous Events Talk About Previous Events Call 2 Discuss Upcoming Classes Discuss Upcoming Classes Date of Dinner Ask About the Mariner Ask About the Mariner Date of Other Events Date of Other Events Talk About Previous Events Talk About Previous Events Call 3

22 Contact Information Please call me if you want more information or help Anita F. Walker – or