1. Prepared By: John Clements Director – Membership Development
NARFE MEMBERSHIP
Prepared By: John Clements Director – Membership Development

3. Background Paper NARFE Membership Membership Report
YEAR MEMBERS +/- YEAR MEMBERS +/-
291, ,589 +4,140
362, , ,
418, , ,775 -9,613
487, , , ,349
491, , ,245 -9,181
486, , ,520 +4,275
491, , , ,155
489, , ,909 -4,456
489, , ,260
478, , , ,188
477, , , ,640
No Data* No Data * , ,402 **
462, , ,966 -5,453
451, , ,310 -7,656
444, , , ,536
445, ,330
The most dramatic increase in membership is seen from This could be attributed to the Reagan Administration that bore a
“Threat” factor. The Republicans were anti-government and anti civil service. They disbanded the Air Traffic Controllers Union, established
the “Grace Commission” and went on diet COLAs during this time frame. During that period, we also had almost “unlimited” mailings to
retirees using OPM data. In 1982, OPM discontinued these mailings.
Membership was relatively stable from , and started to drop in 1987.
The increase in membership from 1993 through 1995 is attributed to the return of the OPM blind mailings. A one-time additional OPM mailing in 1999
caused an increase in membership that year.
* Great computer crash of 1989
** Increase partly due to the dues increase (30%)

4. Membership Gain/Loss 1979 Deaths 6,883 New Members Recruited 91,925
64,973 National
26,952 Chapter
Deaths 6,883
Non-Renewing 14,185

5. Percentage of Members Retained

6. Why Members Drop

7. Membership Surveys Dorf & Stanton 1992 NARFE Survey 1992
Beta Research Membership Study 2000
Beta Research Former Member Study 2001
NARFE Survey

8. Dorf & Stanton Chapter Level and National Involvement Recommendation
Many respondents do not wish to pay chapter dues because they “do not wish to participate…”
Recommendation
“Make chapter membership voluntary”

9. NARFE In-House Survey - 1992
Reasons for Non-Renewal
Required Chapter Membership 18.4%
Unreported Death %
Ill / Nursing Homes / Assisted Care 10.0%
Misplaced Renewal Notice %

10. BETA Research Membership Study 2000 “If the chapter requirement was removed”
Total
65 or Under
65+
… Yes, would remain
61%
55%
63%
… No, would not (Includes no answer)
39%
45%
36%

11. BETA Research Former Member Survey 2002
Disliked having to belong to a chapter 22%
Not enough values for dues 19%
Not enough time to devote to membership 19%
Dissatisfaction with perks, Retirement Life, Legislative
Program, & NARFE services 13%

12. NARFE Survey 2005 Major Reasons for Non-Renewal Death 22%
Ill Health %
Dissatisfaction with Chapters 13%
NARFE not doing enough or what they promised 12%
Membership is expensive %

13. Conclusion Survey data very consistent
Top three reasons for Non-Renewal
Chapter Requirement
Unreported Deaths
Ill-Health (Nursing Home / Assisted Living)