Attendees:National Membership Chairman Bob Richter NJ; Marvin Betts CT; Jerry Blum CT; Jesse Gersten AZ; Larry Holman PA; Mike London TX; PNC Monte Mayer NY; PNC Norman Rosenshein NJ; Helene Van Clief NY
Staff: NED Herb Rosenbleeth; Larry Richardson; Mrs. Bailor; Cheryl Waldman
Subject: Membership
- Excerpts from Introduction by the Membership Chairman
I am Bob Richter and I am your National Membership Chairman and your moderator this evening. I am from the Department of NJ.
I want to give everyone a summary of membership status at this point in time, close to the end of the membership year. The Data is based on information from a May 15th alpha roster which leaves two more months to close out the membership year.
The average 5/19/09 strength is around 94% of the close of 2008
The best showing is from The Dept of Nevada which is up about 4%. Maryland and Tx/Arz/La/Okl are up around 1%.
The poorest showings are from Florida, Illinois, Virginia/NC & Missouri/Kansas, which are down about 8%
The data is very encouraging as this is the least we have been down and if everyone makes an effort in retention, it is possible to close the year out without a loss in membership. I also ask that Commanders and quartermasters carefully check final alpha rosters against their records because it is possible that our records may be in error.
- Judge Sol Gothard has reinvigorated Post in New Orleans through personal magnetism and has generated enthusiasm about Post
- Post 126 in New Jersey experienced same enthusiasm; has gone from a paper Post to 325 members
- People have to care enough to get new members
- Some Departments wish to expand criteria for those veterans who qualify for full-membership in JWV
- Possibility of forming online Posts as a way to recruit younger members
- Formation of online Post requires Constitutional changes
- Three online Posts would form an online Department
- Online Posts would solve problem of locations where there may not be enough members to form a physical Post
- Three online Posts would lead to the formation of an online Department
