Region D Membership Enhancement Coordinators Presented by: Ken & Rita Moffitt Region D Membership Enhancement Coordinators 2008 – 2009 International Couple of the Year

GWRRA is organized from the top down; But supported from the bottom up!   Member – The reason GWRRA exists. Chapter – 1st GWRRA leadership level to serve its Members. Districts – 2nd GWRRA leadership level to serve Chapters and Members. Regions - 3rd GWRRA leadership level to serve Districts, Chapters, and Members. International – 4th GWRRA leadership level to serve Regions, Districts, Chapters, & Members

If you have retention you are going to have recruitment. Why. . .? A high retention rate reflects an involved, active, fun chapter. Active and involved members usually have friends who also want to be part of the fun. Active members promote GWRRA in public settings through their enthusiasm for the organization and their chapter pride.

What are the benefits of recruitment?   Recruitment supplies GWRRA with new members or obtains replacements for members lost, wasted, or needed to enhance the fun associated with GWRRA. Prevents chapter stagnation.

So how do we prevent stagnation? The best way to prevent stagnation and the ultimate destruction of any organization is by recruiting new members, because new members bring: New ideas on how to have fun, New faces to have fun with, New synergy and group dynamics towards fun activities, Additional persons to man booths and do necessary work; Future officers and chapter longevity.  

Without people and purpose, no organization can exist. Change is inevitable. Nothing ever stays the same for very long. Organizations either prosper through growth, or they stagnate and die. No organization can be successful for very long by simply maintaining the status quo.

Membership Longevity Cycle  Discovery (1-6 Months) Experimental (6 Months – 1 Year)   Comfort (Years 1 - 3) Caution (Years 3 – 4) Danger (Year 4 and beyond) Whatever happened to… (Anytime)

Discovery Phase (1 - 6 Months) Buys a Gold Wing and joins GWRRA;  After 6 weeks, Membership Packet and Wing World arrive; Reads Wing World and is amazed at all there is in GWRRA; and  Seeks out or is “recruited by ” a chapter .  

Experimental Phase (6 Months – 1 Year) Attends gatherings and events;   Attends gatherings and events; Joins Rider Ed as Level I, with intent to achieve Level IV; Develops a Chapter “Best Buddy” and communicates between events; Buys $5 in 50/50 tickets, to be part of the crowd; Buys / installs “safety” chrome on the Wing.

Comfort Phase (Years 1 - 3) Adds 100 lbs of chrome to Wing; Wears Chapter Jacket / Vest / Patches / Pins; Tells stories about fun things on rides; Contributes to GWRRA chapter and fun events; Friends, fun , and social life is GWRRA; Attends Wing Ding and District Rallies Holds a GWRRA officer or staff position just for fun .

Caution Phase (Years 3 – 4) Co-rider stops having fun and stops coming to GWRRA events and rides; Not interested in holding officer or staff positions; Leaves GWRRA vest in closet (too hot / too heavy); Ignores new members, sits alone, listens, and leaves early (not having any fun ); Little things (meal price, gathering location / time) are now big objections; and Stops signing event sheet, and complains that no one calls him/her because of chapter cliques.

Sleeps in on Saturday/Sunday morning, riding with GWRRA   Hasn’t been to a GWRRA event in 2 or more months and no one from GWRRA has called; Sleeps in on Saturday/Sunday morning, riding with GWRRA is not much fun any more; Complains about most everything; Remarks about all the new members now in GWRRA; Buys a classic car, sports car, or boat for fun .

Whatever happened to…? Phase (Anytime)   Wing is listed in the classifieds, and placed in the yard with a “For Sale” sign on it. Purchases and rides another make/model motorcycle; GWRRA membership renewal date forgotten and membership expires.

Recognize and monitor fun quotient and member’s signs; Get new members into the excitement or comfort phases as quickly as possible and keep them there by maximizing fun ; and Reach out to those members who slipped into the ‘whatever happened’ to…’ phase.

Recruiting & Retention Detractors?? Lack of Recognition, Acceptance, or Commitment by members for the continuing need to recruit new members. Demographics - Age / Family / Health / Deaths New Gold Wing Prices More Motorcycle Organizations Available More Non-GWRRA Motorcycle events

Signs that members have lost interest in recruiting and growth May Express some of these Thoughts: We already have enough members. We have no more room at our gathering location for new members. We are a close knit group who get along just fine as we are. Our group does the same old thing every month or never does anything fun any more.

Suggestions To Keep Members Interested… Welcome all members (old and new) to every GWRRA event. Formally recognize all dignitaries and special guests at all events, and be sure to thank them for attending. Assign a “buddy” to all new members. Survey members expectations, and plan to meet them. Transfer ownership and planning of events to members. Ensure open and facilitated communications; Rosters and phone lists, Email addresses, cell phone lists .

Terrific Retention Program: Eight Simple Steps To A Terrific Retention Program: GWRRA officers must be enthusiastic and positive. Plan and schedule regular and varied fun events /rides. Positively recognize and reward retention success. Make retention a high priority; Establish retention goals and milestones. Keep and publish simple retention statistics on progress. Obtain feedback from members to peak / tweak fun programs. Appoint and actively support a Membership Enhancement Coordinator!!

The Value of a Membership Enhancement Coordinator (MEC) is a vital key to membership retention! Here are only a few of the things they can do for your Chapter: Use the ‘Comments’ column in the Area Report as a tool to aid in retention. Send email / post card/ phone call reminders to renew memberships.

Even More Things Your MEC Can Do To Keep Members… Track attendance to readily identify repeated absences. Call absentees to: Let them know that they were missed, Determine the reason(s) they were absent, and Remind them of, and invite them to, the next fun event / gathering. Come up with fun ideas for the chapter.

Have an Alumnae Home-Coming Party, Gathering, or Cook Out Fun Ideas for Bringing the Chapter Together Have an Alumnae Home-Coming Party, Gathering, or Cook Out Display picture books of Past and Current fun activities; Provide copies of Current and Past Newsletters, Rosters, and Ride Schedules; Get old members to sign the signup sheet for a specific ride to one of their best-liked spots; and Make it easy to update their memberships that day.

Get all members actively involved in recruiting new members!   Communicate to perspective members the excitement and fun they will have as active GWRRA and Chapter members. Get all members actively involved in recruiting new members!

Terrific Recruiting Program: Eight Simple Steps To A Terrific Recruiting Program: GWRRA officers must be enthusiastic and positive!! Make recruiting a high priority in your chapter, district, or region; Establish recruiting goals and milestones. Appoint and actively support a Recruiting Coordinator. Plan and schedule regular fun-filled recruiting events and rides. Keep and publish simple recruiting statistics on progress. Obtain feedback from members as to why they joined. Positively recognize and reward recruiting success.

GWRRA’s future is dependant on your recruiting new members . You need to make recruiting a priority and involve all members in recruiting new members. Don’t automatically rule out membership prospects. Assume everyone wants to join and invite everyone with whom you speak. Remember - no Chapter, District, or Region continues with the status quo for very long. They either grow and prosper, or they shrink and die out. The member you recruit today could be tomorrow’s Chapter, District, or Region officer, or even your relief !!!