Membership Applications 101

by Bill Roberge

The APPLICATION: We have to be able to read it. If you’re at an event that’s working with people filling out the applications, while the person is still there, make sure that all the information is legible.

NAME: You would think that the easiest way to find a person in our records would be to search for the name. Not so. Maybe we entered Bubba Smith because that’s what was on the membership application. Maybe Bubba moved – and when he reported the change of address all we were told was that George Smith (Bubba’s legal name) moved to XYZ Street, Somewhere, WI. We simply will not find him with this information. The change of address will not be made, and Bubba and/or George will not get his newsletter. Businesses too, can buy a membership. Some members put it under their business name, some chose to use their personal name, and some ask that we blend the two. So, searching for “just a name” for these members/businesses can be difficult.

ADDRESS: USPS Postal Address please. Use either a P.O. Box or the physical address if mail is delivered to a mailbox. We don’t need both. Just the one that will get the mail to them. All membership materials (cards, patches, and pins) are sent out by First Class Mail. This means that if they aren’t delivered, we get them back and the search begins.

PHONE NUMBER: We do not release any of our membership data outside of the organization. At the same time, many of the phone numbers we may have on file are no longer in service due to the number of people who have cancelled landlines and gone to cell service only. If someone has a membership problem, it’s very important for us to have a phone number when we try to fix it. EMAIL: same reason as the phone number.

COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: County is only important when we share information with our regional officers. Since ABATE of Wisconsin regions are established by county lines, when a regional rep gets a report or a set of mailing labels from us – the information is sorted out of the database by county.

If someone tells you that they “sent in or paid for a membership but never got anything”… one of the above could be the reason. Get as much information as you can from them and call Marie or myself for further research.

As I reported last month, we have started printing out a list to distribute to the regions of the people who recently “expired out” their membership. This means that they’re still in the computer, but their membership is considered expired, and they’ll no longer get a newsletter to stay informed. Some regions are using this list and getting renewals. Sometimes all it takes is someone local who takes a moment to call and find out what the problem is, and they’ll come back.

Remember, It’s not only “Getting Yours,” it’s keeping them.

Bill