Membership Committee Update

REMINDER:  Poster Contest

 

Now is the time to get any and all kids involved in the 2008-2009 youth poster contest. A squadron can take this poster contest to the schools and use it as a recruiting tool or make it a squadron family affair - get the kids involved and before you know it you may get some active parents. 

 

There were some great posters at the national meeting in Detroit last year - let's see if we can't outdo what was done last year! Please encourage all your members with kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews to have the kids participate.  What a way for the kids to learn about USPS® and how it helps us all become and remain safe boaters.  The theme this year is “Boating is Fun”.  I am sure that most kids will agree with that!  Please encourage those that participated last year to participate again this year.  And don’t forget there are monetary prizes for the top winners at National.

 

The rules and entry form plus ideas from the past poster contest can be found at - http://www.usps.org/national/membership/youth/pictures/12thYPContest.pdf.  Please make copies and distribute at your upcoming general meetings.  Vote for your district’s winners at an upcoming spring conference or a summer rendezvous – one winner for each of the 3 age groups.

 

 

 

Stf/C Linda LaLonde, P

National Membership Committee

Recruiting/Retention

lalondel@us.ibm.com

 

REMINDER:  MIRA COMPETITION

 

Don’t forget to enter the P/C/C WILLIAM D. SELDEN, IV, SN, MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT RETENTION AWARD better known as MIRA 2009.   This competition is for all squadrons and Districts to enter and there are monetary awards for the squadrons as well as trophies for all winners.  Dollar amounts for the squadrons is decided by P/D/C Wm. Selden, V who also provides the marble trophies.

Any squadron or District may enter by describing a program that has devised and utilized a plan to increase Member Involvement/Retention, and that has produced measurable results. Don’t forget to include an accounting of how your program impacts retention.   So, whether you refined a plan that has worked before or designed a new plan, please submit your entries

A Squadron or District Membership Committee, via their Involvement Chair, submits an entry prior to the deadline of 15 May 2009 to the District Membership Committee who in turn submits these entries to the National Award Chair.

The winning entries will be presented at the USPS® Fall 2009 Governing Board in Kansas City..

Don’t forget to use the form found at ; http://www.usps.org/national/membership/meminv/MIRA_2009/MIRA2009A-fill-in.pdf

For more information, contact membership@usps.org

 

Membership Committee Update

Keep DB2000 Member Data Current

Please insure that all information for officers in your squadron DB2000 file is current and accurate.  Online web hits from potential new members can only be accurately forwarded if your contact data is current.

 

Absorb Unattached Members

Please make every effort to absorb unattached members into your squadron should a neighboring squadron be dissolved. Invite them to your events and call them regularly. This is a growing number and squadrons need to work in harmony to promote the USPS agenda, share learning experiences and boating activities.  A dues paying member is an asset not to be ignored!

 

What’s new? – Look for “*Learn from the Best*” - the new recruiting brochure that highlights educational opportunities focused on enhancing skills while having fun. Available at the Annual Meeting

 

New Member Involvement Retention Award (MIRA) Deadline

Deadline is 15 May 2009.  Download the application and submit to P/R/C Priscilla Clarke, AP.  Award is funded by the Selden Family and winning squadrons are awarded $$$ for outstanding programs.

 

Roberta L. Dougherty, AP

R/C Membership Committee

United States Powers Squadrons

 

Secretary's Manual Update

On 11/01/08, the updated and reformatted Secretary's Manual was published on the Operations Manual website ( www.usps.org/national/om ). It is included both as Chapter 15 of the Operations Manual and as a stand-alone document (http://www.usps.org/national/om/pdfs/secman.pdf ). Please consult the What's Changed document on the Operations Manual website for a more detailed listing of all changes to the manual.

District & Squadron Event Insurance

Effective 1 July 2008, USPS selected the Chubb Insurance Group to ensure that USPS has the best comprehensive insurance coverage. USPS insurance provides coverage for districts and squadrons that use property owned by others for classrooms, meetings and other events. Where evidence of insurance is required by the owner or lessor, districts and squadrons should complete the certificate of insurance request form and submit the request to Chubb’s agent, Gowrie, Barden & Brett.

For access to more information or to request a certificate, click here.

Fall Governing Board Update

Fall Governing Board

The Fall Governing Board in Detroit is now history. If you missed it, you might be interested in the meeting CD. Call Headquarters 1-888-367-8777 to see if there are any left. You can also find the reports which were in the seat packets online.

The URL is: http://www.usps.org/national/natsec/seatpacket.html

While you’re online, you may want to review the latest issue of the Secretary’s Department Newsletter.

The URL is: http://www.usps.org/national/secnews/index2.htm


Newsworthy Items

R/C Roberta Dougherty and the Membership Committee have compiled a list of newsworthy items.

The URL is: http://www.usps.org/national/membership/pdf_files/Newsworthy_Items_from_Detroit_GB_Fall_2008.pdf

Spring Survey

The results of the Spring Survey were compiled by P/V/C Baldridge and can be found on the web.

The URL is: http://www.usps.org/national/membership/pdf_files/Survey_Results_PVC_Baldridge_2008_May.pdf

NEW PRO-LOG

The Marketing/Public Relations Committee launched an online PRO-LOG in Detroit. Check it out.

The URL is: http://www.usps.org/newpublic2/redir/prolog.html


Boating is fun…we’ll show you how

U.S. Coast Guard Infoline/Hotline Discontinued

U.S. Coast Guard Infoline/Hotline 800-Number -- No Longer in Service

 

As many of you may recall, the U. S. Coast Guard Infoline (a toll-free phone number formerly referred to as the Boating Safety Hotline) was discontinued October 1, 2006 due to budget shortfalls.  At that time, the Coast Guard requested our partner organizations to remove the 800 number from active websites and customer assistance phone services, and to discontinue the use of the number in all printed material. 

 

It has recently come to the Coast Guard's attention that the CG Infoline 800 number (800-368-5647) has been privately reactivated and now leads to a secondary 800 number that is unrelated to boating safety when dialed.  All Coast Guard field units have been directed to obliterate this number from all forms and publications where it appears.  All replacement stock of these forms and publications no longer carry the CG Infoline number.

 

Due to the fact that the boating public is still continuing to attempt to reach us at this number, we are asking for your assistance in ensuring that your membership is aware that the Coast Guard Infoline/Hotline is no longer in use and to discontinue the placement of the number in all publications and services.  It is further requested that, where possible, you obliterate this number from any existing stock of materials in order to prevent any misdirection or confusion for the recreational boating public. 

 

Your cooperation and assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated, and thank you for all you do to make recreational boating safer for our boating public.

 

 

 

Internet Opportunities for Finding New Members

To: Squadron Commanders

From: R/C Roberta L. Dougherty, AP

RE: Internet Opportunities for Finding New Members

Date: 9 May 2008

As many of you may know, the USPS website, www.usps.org , weekly receives approximately 200 hits on the url link for “Become a Member.” In an effort to respond personally to the inquiries of these potential members, the Membership Committee leaders worked with the Secretary’s Department to develop a standard procedure to reply to these interested persons. Our reply team is comprised of committee volunteers who will work to maintain the conduit of communication and information flowing between these potential new members and you, the local squadron leader.

In order to ensure the success of this program, please make a concerted effort to keep your information current in the DB2000 database. Also, make certain that the contact person for your squadron is still willing to serve in this capacity. If not, please send me an email request and I will forward instructions for updating the contact’s information in the appropriate places. ITCom is currently addressing the issue of finding an easier way to assure the accuracy through out USPS when squadrons maintain their various forms.

The following steps are outlined for your reference so that if you receive an email from Beverly Wiley, Membership Service Representative, suggesting you contact a potential new member, you will be prepared to “make it happen” and invite them to attend a squadron function and eventually join your squadron.

1. The prospective member clicks on “Become a Member” web link.

2. A letter is automatically generated to this interested person, giving a brief overview of who we are and an email containing his/her information is sent to mailto:membership.usps@yahoo.com.

3. The Membership Service Representative (MemServRep), Barbara Wiley, locates the nearest squadron(s).

4. A letter is sent to the Squadron giving contact info with a quick letter asking them to contact the potential member within 4 days. At the same time a response is sent to the potential member telling them what is being done.

5. If no contact is made by the squadron, a phone call will be made to the squadron contact by the MemServRep.

6. If more than one squadron operates in an area, the potential member will be sent a letter requesting he research squadrons and let the MemServRep know which squadron(s) he wants an introduction to.

7. A follow-up query will be sent to the targeted squadron one month after this initial contact to determine the status of the potential member. Hopefully he has joined the squadron.

8. If squadron doesn't reply that contact was made, MemServRep will contact the potential member to determine what is happening and facilitate the process.

9. If the potential member doesn’t join a squadron, a thank you email will be sent by the MemServRep and his information is kept on file for five years.

Thank you for working with us to grow USPS. Boating is fun. We can show them how!