Membership Involvement Is the Key to Healthy Growth

United States Power SquadronsDistrict 8

Spring Conference26 April 2008

D/Lt Anita F. Walker, P

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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 membersOur goal is to improve membership involvementOur goal is to improve membership involvement

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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 organizationRemember, we’re a volunteer organization

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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

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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

The path to the bridge or teaching often requires experience. Retaining members provides for future health

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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

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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) www.usps.org/dues/reports/reports.php)Let’s take a look at the most current numbers for our districtLet’s take a look at the most current numbers for our district

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We Are Starting to See Improvements Across the District

Year1 2008 2007 New Non- Past

Totals Totals % change Members3 Renewals4 Members5

Biscayne Bay 22 28 79% 0 1 9Coral Ridge Sail & 143 167 86% 1 0 68Cutler Cove 79 83 95% 2 1 24Ft. Lauderdale 165 183 90% 14 2 95Hollywood 18 17 106% 5 0 7Homestead 21 24 88% 2 0 5Key West Sail & 163 161 101% 14 6 74Marathon Sail & 94 120 78% 0 6 59

Miami Sail &2 114 241 47% 2 2 70Palm Beach Sail & 369 412 90% 19 17 193Pompano Beach 216 223 97% 14 11 90Port St. Lucie 49 51 96% 5 7 12Sebastian Inlet Sail & 83 113 73% 8 2 68St. Lucie River 163 181 90% 2 1 68Vero Beach 277 274 101% 28 1 67

Data From District Membership Reports 4/14/08 (dues database)

Data from National Website March 31, 2008

1 Does not include Life members

2 2007 totals include Miami Beach and Everglades

3 April 07 - April 08

4 2008 YTD

5 06 and 07 non-renewals

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Last Fall, We Used Pompano As an Example. . .

2007 2006 2005 2004

Non-Renewal

38 93 82 77

New 39 42 46 41

Net +1 -51 -36 -36

This is a dramatic change. Let’s talk about what we did differently and how we measure success

This is a dramatic change. Let’s talk about what we did differently and how we measure success

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We Look at a Variety of Measurements Along With Net Membership Gain

Interesting Notes from 2006 32 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 2007 34 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!

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!

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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 squadronYou can do these things in your squadron

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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

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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!!

Last year, we formulated a plan and with the help of many, we ruthlessly executed it!!

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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?Which activities have you found successful?

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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

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Each Bridge Position Offers Opportunities for First, Second and Third Year Members

Commander’sDepartment

Commander’sDepartment

Exec’sDepartment

Exec’sDepartment

Admin’sDepartmentAdmin’s

Department

EducationDepartmentEducation

Department

Treasurer’sDepartmentTreasurer’sDepartmentSecretary’s

DepartmentSecretary’sDepartment

• Dinner W/the Commander

• Participate/ chair a Committee

• Coop Charting• Change of

Watch• Participate/

chair a Committee

• 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

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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

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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 COW Become a Committee Member Chair a Committee

Assist W/coop Charting Become a Vessel Safety Inspector

Take an Assistant or Bridge Position

Assist W/boat Show And/or Other Outside Functions

Take Operations Training Teach a Course

Set Tables at a Dinner Meeting Organize 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 Dinner Proctor

Attend a Dinner, Raft up or Other Land Event

Take a Course

Help W/rendezvous or Land Event

Write an Article

Greet at a Dinner Meeting Attend a District Conference

Make a Few Phone Calls Join the Executive Committee

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Practical Tips

Action (The ‘How’) Who WhenCommander’s Letter and follow-up call

Commander First 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, Bridge

Initial 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!!

We need to look at 2008 for continuing to improve – Consistency!!

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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 nothave completed

theBoating course

New member may or may nothave completed

theBoating course

Discuss Upcoming Classes

Discuss Upcoming Classes

Date of DinnerDate of Dinner

Invitation to ProctorInvitation to Proctor

Ask About theMariner

Ask About theMariner

Date of Other Events

Date of Other Events

Call 1Call 1

Discuss Upcoming Classes

Discuss Upcoming Classes

Date of DinnerDate of Dinner

Ask About theMariner

Ask About theMariner

Date of Other Events

Date of Other Events

Talk AboutPrevious Events

Talk AboutPrevious Events

Call 2Call 2

Discuss Upcoming Classes

Discuss Upcoming Classes

Date of DinnerDate of Dinner

Ask About theMariner

Ask About theMariner

Date of Other Events

Date of Other Events

Talk AboutPrevious Events

Talk AboutPrevious Events

Call 3Call 3

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Contact Information

Please call me if you want more information or help

Anita F. Walker – 954 781 8061 or

walker1191@bellsouth.net