1 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ? Retention Is Our Problem – Efforts are Needed to Enhance Assistance, Communications, and Inclusion

2 STARTING POINT IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN Protecting earned retirement benefits of employees, retirees, and families (including our children and their families) by: Protecting earned retirement benefits of employees, retirees, and families (including our children and their families) by: –Strengthening Chapters (give them the training, tools, and resources to do their jobs) –Finding ways to retain and grow membership (expand definition for membership, strengthen reasons for joining, and provide services)

3 Things to Do to Resolve Problems 1. Determine which tasks are difficult for chapter officers 2. Review tasks for underlying problem components 3. Make recommendations 4. Look at the BIG PICTURE

4 UNDERSTANDING the Problems Identify those problems that have solutions that the Federation and Chapters can address by: –Training –Tools –Resources

5 RETENTION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM Strategic Plan Must Address Retention By: Strategic Plan Must Address Retention By: – Improving the Assistance we provide to our membership and chapters – Improving our Communications programs – Improving the ways we Include members in our activities

6 Identify Assistance Problems and Solutions ProblemsSolutions Managing meetingsTraining Managing meetingsTraining Securing new officersJob descriptions, training Securing new officersJob descriptions, training Suitable meeting location Training, guidance Suitable meeting location Training, guidance BudgetingTraining, tools BudgetingTraining, tools –Income projection –Fund Raising –Setting dues Funding special projectsFunding from National or Federation Funding special projectsFunding from National or Federation Getting members to attend Communications, chapter meetings tools, program improvements Getting members to attend Communications, chapter meetings tools, program improvements

7 Identify Communication Problems and Solutions ProblemsSolutions Production of the NewsletterTraining, tools, Production of the NewsletterTraining, tools, (Supplies, mailing, printing, information sorting, etc.) Finding interesting articlesTraining, tools Finding interesting articlesTraining, tools Calling Trees Tools Calling Trees Tools Bulk mailing permitTraining, tools Bulk mailing permitTraining, tools Reimbursement for expensesBudgeting Reimbursement for expensesBudgeting

8 Identify Inclusion Problems and Solutions ProblemsSolutions –Boring MeetingsTools, Resources –Didn’t Feel WelcomedBuddy System –ParticipationService Projects –Committee Questionnaire on Interest Participation Participation –Provide ServicesKnow your membership –TransportationGetting people to your Committee meetings Committee meetings –Schedule small Identify common interests group group

9 Identify Problems and Solutions for Retention and Recruitment ProblemsSolutions Understanding responsibilitiesTraining, tools Understanding responsibilitiesTraining, tools Understanding National ReportsTools, information Understanding National ReportsTools, information Presenting data – editing, verifyingTools Presenting data – editing, verifyingTools Knowing who to contact aboutTraining, tools Knowing who to contact aboutTraining, tools (death notices, name changes, new members, dropped members)

10 How to Address Problems Tools represent worksheets, computer programs, guide books, and other resources Tools represent worksheets, computer programs, guide books, and other resources Funding represents access to resources Funding represents access to resources Identifying structural problems Identifying structural problems Budgeting represents a planned financial structure Budgeting represents a planned financial structure Information represents access to resources (part of Tools) Information represents access to resources (part of Tools)

11 Review Tasks for Underlying Problem Components Lack of resources Lack of resources –Funding (How do I find support for things like newsletters, membership initiatives, etc.) –Materials (What letters, post cards, flyers, and guides are available and from whom?) –Working in Teams (Am I part of a team working on legislative issues, membership, service officer activities, etc.)

12 Lack of Assistance Services How do I change my personal information How do I change my personal information Get answers to my questions Get answers to my questions Get brochures, address labels, technical support, etc.) Get brochures, address labels, technical support, etc.) How do I find and keep support staff (officers, greeters, callers, etc.) How do I find and keep support staff (officers, greeters, callers, etc.) How do I produce publications (Newsletters, member books, membership reports, etc.) How do I produce publications (Newsletters, member books, membership reports, etc.) How do I produce good programs (Programs/speakers, entertainers, politicians, etc) How do I produce good programs (Programs/speakers, entertainers, politicians, etc)

13 Assistance Services -Who do I report to (Send reports, get help, etc.) -Am I a member of a team (Secretaries, Treasurers, Service Officers, etc.) –How are directives sent (mail, , etc.) –What are my duties to the Chapter/Federation/National –Who provides training and when –How are my expenses reimbursed and by whom

14 Lack of a Clear Direction –What are the goal for the Chapter/Federation/National –What role does my office play –How do I participate in the goals setting process –Where and when are goals and programs set –How do goals and programs get translated into chapter programs

15 How Do We Address Problems –Chapter Funding Provide Budget guides Provide Budget guides Provide guidance on Dues Provide guidance on Dues Provide funding for membership recruitment/retention Provide funding for membership recruitment/retention Provide funding for outreach – newsletters, brochures, post cards, letters, phone trees, list, etc. Provide funding for outreach – newsletters, brochures, post cards, letters, phone trees, list, etc. Provide funding for the development of state-wide, Area, PAC, legislative teams Provide funding for the development of state-wide, Area, PAC, legislative teams Provide direct support for special projects Provide direct support for special projects

16 Options Support for Chapter communications – Federation support Support for Chapter communications – Federation support – Post cards to members for meeting notices – Post cards to 2 nd Notice recipients – Post cards to New Members – Membership letters to Prospective Members – Flyers – Legislative support information Other ideas Other ideas – Calling Tree – Tree

17 Improving Chapter Programs Tools on website including Tools on website including – Examples from other Chapters – Newsletter on website Develop Federation Programs - could we export these programs to schools, civic organizations, etc as outreach/recruitment? Develop Federation Programs - could we export these programs to schools, civic organizations, etc as outreach/recruitment? – NARFE presentations on the State Legislation – NARFE entertainment programs – Travel, musical, corral, boating, sports, wines, health, and security – Public Service presentations based on members expertise – Environmental, PHS, Agricultural, Security, computers and USPS.

18 Organizational Structure Chapters provide an annual budget to the Area VPs Chapters provide an annual budget to the Area VPs Provide guideline for a small chapter budget with online support Provide guideline for a small chapter budget with online support List services the Federation can provide– bulk mailing, production, calling tree, , etc List services the Federation can provide– bulk mailing, production, calling tree, , etc Guidance on dues rate, budgeting, and other functions Guidance on dues rate, budgeting, and other functions Training for Chapter Officers Training for Chapter Officers Development of support group by functions or programs (TEAMS) Development of support group by functions or programs (TEAMS)

19 Remember the BIG PICTURE Questions Remain Questions Remain –What makes people want to join a chapter or NARFE –Who belongs to NARFE –Who belongs to a chapter –Who belongs to National Member group –Do we project a clear image of who we are –Are our aims clear to all –Do we have political clout –Do we have financial clout –Do we have a clear communication/marketing strategy

20Suggestions –Invite all chapter members to attend the Annual Convention Plan for an attendance of 2,000 Plan for an attendance of 2,000 –Create Committees that do things – have responsibilities –Emphasize Federation-NARFE PAC Activities Creating NARFE PAC Committee Creating NARFE PAC Committee Change the way we work with politicians Change the way we work with politicians Raise $75,000 by asking each member to contribute $10 for use within our state through the National NARFE PAC Raise $75,000 by asking each member to contribute $10 for use within our state through the National NARFE PAC Committee would report to the Convention on NARFE PAC Activities Committee would report to the Convention on NARFE PAC Activities –Convention time should be devoted to national and state elections Non-partisan reviews of candidates Non-partisan reviews of candidates Set goals for discussions by members meeting with candidates Set goals for discussions by members meeting with candidates –Use questionnaires and surveys by mail or on line as appropriate to enhance member discussion/participation in decision processes –Develop a clear communication/marketing strategy