Attendees: National Commander Ed Robins; Membership Committee Chairman Bob Richter; Mel Brody SW; Jerry Alperstein NY; Elliott Donn CT; Hannah Deutch NY; Jesse Gersten SW; Ed Glasspool NJ; PNC Ed Goldwasser NY/FL; Joe Kraut SE; Michael Menschel NY; PNC Norman Rosenshein; Helene Van Clief NY
Staff: NEC Herb Rosenbleeth; DOO Larry Richardson; Cheryl Waldman; Ruby DesChamps
Subject: Membership
- Pilot project in NJ to collect dues for 2010 from those who hadn't paid for 2 or more years
- Customized mailing after release of February alpha roster
- Letters personalized to include name of person's own Post Quartermaster so they would have a familiar name
- Included pre-addressed return envelope
- New Jersey: 800 letters sent; 221 responses received
Results included 24 deceased; 33 moved with no forwarding address;
104 sent checks; 25 had paid previously
78 checks received from those who had last paid in 2009
17 checks received from those who had last paid in 2008
7 checks received from those who had last paid in 2007
2 checks received from those who had last paid in 2006
Some families of deceased members sent donations
9 said they could not afford to pay; in 2 cases their post paid for them
- Similar project in Post in SW has had a 100% retention rate
- National Headquarters does not have staff to send out letters; should be done as a local project or a Department project
- One-on-one meetings important to getting new members and getting existing members more motivated to take on Post responsibilities
- Letters don't work for getting new members and motivated volunteers; need personal contact
- Best way to get new members is to show that the organization has a purpose, such as supporting homeless veterans
- If Form 990 is not filed with the IRS, the Post will lose its charter and have to be closed
- Package including letters sent to delinquent members will be sent to all Department Commanders to share with the Posts in their Department
Examples for effective letters
