MEMBERSHIP AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (MPAC)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Casper, Wyoming
The meeting was called to order at 1:30pm.
Members present: Nancy Borrell, Vice Chair, Leona Mann, Jim Weibert, Ken Koehler, Dodie Rotherham, Larry Schenkel
Members absent: Robert Lembke, Chair, Ray Lambrecht
The minutes of March 6, 2008 meeting were approved.
Ken Koehler gave a report on the annual Membership Campaign. The most members recruited winners were Kevin Rupp, 1st prize, Ron Rutz and Linda Haase, 2nd prize, Suzette Smith, Art Flegel and Diane Bell, 3rd prize. Chapters with the most new members were Northern Colorado, 1st prize, Central California and Southern California tied for 2nd prize. Names of all new members for the year are entered into a drawing for $25, to be given to three members. There were more participants in the contest this year than previous years. Jim Weibert handed out charts showing membership growth/decline over the years. We are on a slight incline. Need to really work the Membership Table to get our information out.
Dodie Rotherham informed us on the Direct Mail Campaign. The matching fund campaign direct mail goes out in August, to all members. Mass mailing after convention going to North Dakota and South Dakota, California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona at the end of August. Dodie is concerned on the states of Colorado, Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma, no mailings scheduled. She will work with West Coast Direct to verify states that have been covered and she will reassess the states we need to hit. The annual renewal mailing was suggested to have a professional letter written. Leona Mann has Canadian renewals sent to her. If she is unable to get a PO Box by the end of August, she will have renewals sent to AHSGR with her address.
The Ad campaigns are very expensive. Everton-Genealogical has three issues left, all others are too expensive. Also will not advertise on Google.
Membership Plus reviewed by Jim Weibert. At the beginning of convention, we had 62 subscribers. This amounts to $3100 for SOAR. Credit card is the preferred method of payment, however we will accept checks or cash and they will be handled by headquarters and they will let Dennis know. Vista users are having difficulty. There has only been one request for a refund. The Village Coordinators have been asked to promote Membership Plus in their newsletters, also Chapter newsletters need to promote. We need to think about having a “click” on our website to take us to Membership Plus.
Canadian Membership is down. Hopefully having the convention there in 2009 will generate some new members. Leona wants registrations to be sent to her and she will send all to headquarters. She will bring this suggestions up to the Convention Planning Committee. She has recently heard that there is an influx of German Russians into Regina, Winnipeg and some into Calgary.
Sacramento Chapter is being managed by a Committee. Columbia Basin and SE Wyoming have been deactivated.
Another new membership campaign to be launched “Above and Beyond.” Everything will be the same as last year’s campaign. New fliers will be printed and ready for distribution at the Opening Business Meeting.
A list of Village Coordinators is being added to the New Member packets.
No further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:00pm.
Nancy Borrell
Co-Chair, MPAC Committee