Auntie ABATE / “Cuz” Report

Dear Cuz—

I’ve been an ABATE member for a while and I’m grateful for all the work that I see ABATE of Wisconsin doing; but I’ve never been to a meeting or event. Long story short, I signed up on-line, don’t know who the other ABATE members in my area are… I LOOK like a pretty tough biker, but I’m actually kind-a shy. Can you give me some hints on breaking the ice and starting to get involved?

Wallflower

Dear Wallflower,

Well bless your heart! And you picked a perfect month to find an easy entry into getting more involved. Look at the events listing, or the regional reports for the regions that are near to you. Find something that interests you or a meeting you can make it to and take a big step and go there. Take along a friend (member or non) for moral support if you wish. Spring is springing in Wisconsin and people are moving around and getting involved. Just walk toward anyone that looks like they aren’t confused (usually a sign that they’ve done this before) and say, “I’m a rookie, can you help get me started… can you introduce me to a few people?”

That should be all you need because I’m telling the rest of the organization here, to LISTEN UP! If anyone ever wonders into a meeting or event it is your job as an ABATE member to help them feel welcome. It is not just the job of the Regional Rep. It is everyone’s job. A tiny effort from you today could make a huge difference to ABATE of Wisconsin in the future.

Your Cuz was sucked into the ABATE of Wisconsin vortex because Auntie ABATE wouldn’t take no for an answer. She glommed onto me like peanut butter sticks to bread. And bless her heart, I wouldn’t have had it any other way…..learned a heck of a lot in a short period of time and didn’t feel the fool for asking the stupidest questions. As a matter of fact, we were often seen whispering in a corner. Little did everyone know I was absorbing. Absorbing from one of the best.

At officers’ training a few years back, I had a conversation with a younger man who told me that just 10 months before then he had built up the nerve to jump on a Lobby Day bus and didn’t know anyone on it. It takes a lot of nerve to do that. Not everyone could. Anyway, he got on the bus by himself not knowing a soul on board. He went to Lobby Day and met some other ABATE of WI members and learned that we’re a pretty good bunch of like-minded people. Fast forward just 10 months later and he’s a regional officer getting trained to help others along the way.

The secret to membership growth is not selling huge numbers of memberships and then ignoring the people you brought in. The secret of membership growth is to cherish and develop the members you have and keep them with you. Many of you “get” this and hang on with this organization through thick and thin. You are the members that are the “experts” that we need in place to help others stay with us. Use your knowledge of ABATE of Wisconsin, your knowledge of the event you are at, your knowledge of who is who and share that knowledge with those that are just starting out. The more a member knows about us, the more reasons they will have to stay with us and be more involved. In short, what I’m saying is grab the “kids” (new members) and “introduce them to the family” (the rest of us).

Every year ABATE of Wisconsin takes in a ton of new members… and every year we lose about half that ton. We lose them because none of us took the time and the effort to engage them in the organization. Shame on us. We are very good at many things… we are awesome at some things… and we are the best in the country at a couple of things… but retaining new membership isn’t one of our best skills, and we better all start working together to get better at it.

Your assignment for this riding season.…

If you are a newish member, go to a meeting or event and say, “I’m a Rookie, can you show me the ropes?”

If you are an oldish member, go to your meeting or event and keep an eye out for the Rookies and show them the way.

Make your Cuz proud… because we are family.