Teleconference Notes-May 14, 2008

Attendees: Membership Chairman Bob Richter NJ; NC Larry Schulman; Josie Anton FL; Lee Appel CA; Ray Biondo AR; Mel Brody AZ; Ed Elbaum WI; Jesse Gersten AZ; Larry Holman PA; Marvin Juron IL; PNC Monte Mayer VT/NY; Nelson Mellitz NJ; Jerry Polonsky PA; Rich Morris TX; Irv Rosenblum MN; PNC Norman Rosenshein NJ; Maurice Samson CA; Tom Shaw MN; Walter Silverman NY; Ron Sloter TX; Herb Tanzman NJ; PNC Bob Zweiman

Staff: NED Herb Rosenbleeth; Larry Richardson; Mrs. Bailor; Cheryl Waldman

Subject: Membership--New and Different Ways to Attract and Retain Members

• To date (first nine months of fiscal year) the average strength of all departments is about 90% of full-year 2008 totals (complete list of department performance is an attachment to these notes)
  • California is up slightly; lowest performing departments to date are NV, NE, DC, and VA/NC

• Posts have been successful in getting delinquent members to rejoin by sending personalized letters (with return envelope)
  • Important to follow up on letter with telephone call or visit if there is no response to letter
  • Must reach Posts that are not doing this to get them to follow this procedure
  • Posts can compare alpha rosters from June and January to see how numbers compare
  • Easier to retain an old member than to get a new member

• Following suggestions for getting new members are proposals under consideration but not yet JWV policy
  • Two years for the price of one for new members
  • Multiple-year pricing
  • Life membership pricing on sliding scale depending on age
  • 50% reduction in dues for members of other veterans groups
  • Extension of free dues for 2 years after discharge for inservice members

• Suggestions for attracting new members
  • Important to have vibrant programs at Post meetings to attract members of different ages
  • Effective to have a booth at community-wide events such as celebrations for Israel's 60^th anniversary where people who inquire can be invited to follow-up activities, such as free breakfast
  • Serve lunch at meetings at no charge
  • Can contact Nelson Mellitz of GWOT Committee who is in contact with current service members
  • Potential for service officers to attract new members
  • Work at local military bases to get publicity in Post newsletters to attract members, and participate in Jewish services at local bases
  • Have members with literature available at events sponsored by state veterans departments
  • Use poppy sales to attract new members
  • Have new younger members get involved quickly in Post activities and assume leadership roles
  • Make presentations at meetings of other veterans' organizations

Average 2008 strength is at 90% of 2007 with 3 months remaining

The only increase to date is California which is up slightly from 2007

The poorest showing is from Nevada and Nebraska with DC and Virginia-NC only slightly better

Furer - Barag - Wolf Post 126

PO Box 181, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, Phone 856-833-0034

April 14, 2008

Dear Gerald,

To date, the Post has no record of receiving your membership renewal dues for the year 2007/2008. If you have paid, please call Bob Richter at 856-854-3153, so that Post records can be updated.

If you have not already paid your dues, please do so as we urgently need your membership support, even if you are inactive. With your membership we can more effectively lobby on behalf of our troops and veterans. In the past our voice went mostly unheard, but with the highly publicized needs for our wounded warriors, we now have a more receptive ear.

Without your membership support, JWV looses much of its "Clout" because our politicians understand the power of voting "blocs" or the lack thereof. There is strength in numbers and the numbers are needed at this time (while we have a greater chance of being heard) to keep the pressure on our legislators to provide the best possible treatment for our active duty heroes and to improve the VA health care system.

Please send your check made out for $45 to JWV Post 126, in the enclosed return envelope. Your dues are a very small price to pay to help those who depend on our Military and Veteran health care systems. Please renew your membership so that we can maximize our leverage while we can. If your dues payment is a financial burden, call Bob Richter for confidential assistance.

As a side note, our Post has been very successful in raising funds so that we have been able to material help our returning soldiers in distress. We are in the process of purchasing $7,000 worth of aquatic rehab equipment for use by those troops. We continue to take wheelchair residents of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home to the ballpark, we make large donations to families of activated National Guard troops in financial need, and we regularly send "care packages" to our troops in harms way. We also support the Veteran community in many other ways.

I am looking forward to receiving your membership renewal, thus allowing us to do all of the above more effectively.

Sincerely Yours,

Bob Richter (856-854-3153)
National Membership Chairman