|
September 30, 2011
Information Paper
Assign Members to Chapters Pilot Project – 2011/2012
Background: The Problem
- Despite MOAA/chapter system best efforts, individual chapter membership is flat or falling with overall total about 66,000 members – down from 70,000 four years ago.
- Give Me 10! brings in new national members but very few chapter members. The ratio is about 10:1 national vs. chapter members.
- Two special chapter cover wrap efforts netted 5,000 members over 3 years.
- Chapters still recruit high percentage of new members with local programs. Primary means of recruiting new chapter members is through working potentials lists we send chapters each year. Chapters work potentials lists by mailing chapter recruiting materials, or calling prospective members or both. This is expensive and labor intensive. Potentials lists can be in the thousands in certain areas/chapters.
- MOAA national needs to do more to help chapters recruit new members. TX and VA Councils have recommended assigning new MOAA members to chapters when they join the association.
- Decision made to conduct pilot effort in TX, VA to test assigning members to chapters idea.
CONCEPT FOR PILOT:
- Proposed execution dates Oct 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012.
- Plan is to revise new member kit welcome aboard letter to emphasize chapter membership and assign member to specific chapter based on zip code. Include chapter contact information.
- Include new paid members in pilot. Based on historical data, approximately 1500 members total will be assigned to VA/TX chapters during pilot.
- Gaining chapters (president/membership chair/secretary) receive monthly listings of new MOAA members in their recruiting area, with contact information. The chapter contacts member, offers one year free membership in chapter, invites member to attend next chapter meeting and adds to chapter mailing lists/roster.
- MOAA will reimburse chapters for expenses incurred in recruiting/joining new members to chapters from pilot program lists based on $10 per new member actually joined to chapter. Payments made at end of pilot.
- MOAA, with council assistance, tracks progress of pilot over 6 month period using instructions provided by MOAA.
- Survey selected members/chapters at end of pilot and evaluate results to determine if this effort can be applied nationwide.
TIME LINE:
April 11 - Briefed to MOAA Board of Directors – Pilot approved
April 13 - Briefed VA/TX council presidents – start date slipped to Oct 1, 2011
July 7 - Briefed VA council and chapter leaders
Aug 20 - Briefed TX council and chapter leaders via teleconference
Sept 30 - Complete zip code reconciliation for VA/TX
Week of Oct 3 - Execute – first lists to chapters, Nov 1
Mar 31, 2012 - End pilot
April 15 - Survey selected new members/analyze results
/ MOAA Council & Chapter Affairs
|
