Membership Services Committee Meeting
Wilber Main 8:45am
Present: Becky, Ken, Janice, Donna, Margaret, Susan
Absent: Mike
Becky announced that she is no longer able to Chair Membership Services Committee. She will continue to serve on committee as well as work on events. New Chair needs to be identified a.s.a.p.
1. Member Applications:
(will forward additional new member list for vote by email next week)
For future, committee approval for new members will be done by email and only special issue membership applications will be brought to committee.
New Member Application needing discussion and determination:
New Lodging Applicant:
Determination: Return membership payment to them for now along with a letter to state that website updates need to be made to better/more accurately represent their location; Refer to another lodging facility in their area to view website in regards to how they depict their location; Will include member web designers that might be able to assist them; Notify us when changes/updates are made and we will approve membership on a probationary basis - due to number of complaints (their files and ours) this would be warranted (i.e.: if complaints are filed within 6 months of approval, then membership will be terminated without refund).
New Member Application Inspection Report from Janice
Campground & Cabins
Determination: clear out/clean up entry area to campgrounds; provide mats for shower exits and some kind of non-skid flooring in bath area. Cabins and Campground were beautiful, no issues. Notify us when completed for quick re-inspect and approval.
2. Member Recruitment and Retention:
No formal plan on file would be extremely helpful to have.
Overview by Susan of plans for 2009 Renewal Season
Mailing of re-invites with letter to 2008 members not renewed in 09
Phone call to existing member list through the month of Sept.
Including evaluation mechanism in renewal packet
Adding membership Q/A day,
Tues, 9/15 Location to be determined.
Info avail on new member benefit
programs MOZY, Rx, Energy Alliance
Constant Contact being negotiated
Question/discussion in regards to whether or not it would make sense to have member year revolving based on when members join, or when their cashflow makes the most sense.
Would provide less time per month vs a great deal of time once per year would make it manageable for board members to reach out to lapsed members to inquire and re-invite. (We should do this anyway with a bulleted talk sheet for use.)
We can look into this further. Things to consider: Cashflow, Area Guide advertising impacts, administrative process change, etc.
3. Member Program Calendar for FY2010
Actively solicit for Member BAH
activities host locations/food providers;
Propose to pre-register and charge $10 pp.
to cover cost of food. (Need people to know if they come, they wont
need dinner - $10 for dinner is great incentive.)
Looking for Monthly Dates Oct-Nov; Mar-Sept;
Networking Breakfasts/Lunch Seminar alternate months, perhaps by 3 month windows: B/L/BAH? Web 2.0 Theme for 2010; Need to develop this and begin to promote asap. Pick Dates for all today?
a. Start with Basic How to Website Program;
b. Intro Chamber Member to Member
Area as 2nd focus (working on Ning.com to provide member to member
forum site accessible from our website).
c. Using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
d. online
Cloud Computing Tools
e. ??? more
in-depth on any?
Decision to focus on one activity per month third Thursday of any month rotating - Breakfast Networking/Lunch Seminar/BAH Bfast and Lunch can be update and development/training focused. Plan and have calendar confirmed in advance. Working on tentative by 8/13 Board Meeting; Finalizing by 8/31 Member Renewal Packet mailing.
4. Community Calendar of Events and Member News/Announcements Web Pages
Template received from ISD Technologies will begin making changes in order to have operational asap. In the meantime, we are doing what we can to not compromise on services now that we are short-staffed.
Announcement: Elises goodbye party will be hosted by Scott Barton at Hickory Grove Motor Inn on Thurs Aug 20, 5-7pm with gift presentation at 6pm. Donations towards gift accepted at office. Information going to membership this afternoon (Fri 8/7).
Discussion re: Holiday Program - to continue discussion at Board meeting on 8/13/09
Next meeting: Would be on Fri., 9/4 8:45am at Wilber Main
However, this is the start of the Labor Day Weekend
I propose we move date to Wed., 9/2/09