Transcript Training Module 07 - Membership

How do you expect to grow your chapter while sitting on your hands?
RECRUITMENT AND MEMBERSHIP
Department of Alabama
CONSIDER THIS
 1.2 million of 2.5 million eligible for membership are DAV
members
 Veterans have proven their ability
 Veterans have proven their loyalty
 Veterans know the meaning of discipline and teamwork
 Veterans come with support systems that enhance their
employability
Department of Alabama
WHAT IS RECRUITING
 More than just signing up members
 A two step process
 Step 1 - sell yourself and what the DAV has done for you
 Step 2 - know what you are talking about
Department of Alabama
WHY RECRUIT?
 To continue DAV legacy
 To increase or maintain per capita dues for
 DAV Chapter
 DAV Department
 DAV National
 Increased membership reduces workload of other members
 Postions
 Fundraisers
Department of Alabama
BENEFITS OF RECRUITING
 Benefits community
 Injects new blood into chapter/department/national
organization
 New ideas
 More manpower/ womanpower
 Help for Veterans integrating back into the civilian community
 Potentially more Chapter Service Officers
 More committee people
 Diversity of membership
Department of Alabama
RECOGNITION FOR RECRUITING
 Bronze star for 5-9 new DAV members
 Silver star for 10-24 new DAV members
 Gold star for 25-49 new DAV members
 Francis Beaton Award pin for 50-99 new DAV members
 National Commander’s Team plaque for >100 new DAV members
Department of Alabama
BENEFITS OF BEING A RECRUITER
 Each new fully paid DAV Life Member earns the recruiter 2
points
 Each new partial paid DAV Life Member earns the recruiter 1
point
 Each point is equivalent to $1.00 and can be used to purchase
DAV fraternal items at the DAV Store
Department of Alabama
DEPARTMENT INCENTIVES
 Individual Awards
 Top NSO recruiter
 1st place recruiter - $300
 2nd place recruiter - $200
 3rd place recruiter - $100
 Chapter Plaques
 Small <400
 Medium 400-999
 Large >1000
Department of Alabama
RETENTION
 There are chapters who look full on paper, but they aren’t
really working the way they should
 It is better to engage current members than to devote our
time and resources to adding part life members who
 aren’t properly integrated into the organization or
 not fully informed about why membership is important
 Establish a membership committee and have them convene as
soon as possible to discuss ways to improve member retention
and encourage activity among existing members
Department of Alabama
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
 Should
 Survey new and long-term members to identify good and
bad of the Chapter
 Contact members who have left or not paid their dues
 Research causes for poor meeting attendance or volunteer
involvement
 Review the reasons people join and remain members
 Assess retention issues and discuss them honestly
Department of Alabama
FOLLOW UP
 Two to three days after a meeting, contact those who weren’t
able to attend using the telephone, email, social media or
make a visit
 Summarize key points of the meeting and go over information
that requires immediate attention and follow-up
 Let them know of any deadlines
 Make certain they are up-to-date on current issues, and ensure
they know they were missed and are important to the
chapter’s continued success
Department of Alabama
NEW MEMBERSHIP MATERIALS
 Materials from DAV National can be ordered by
 Commander
 Senior Vice Commander
 Adjutant
 Order what you need and use it
 Supply Order Form is on the Department Website
 Fillable and
 Can be mailed or faxed to DAV Membership
Department of Alabama
IMPORTANCE OF CHAPTER SERVICE
OFFICERS
 More often than not, the Chapter Service Officers are the first
contact a Veteran has with the DAV
 They must be honest and should know how to talk about the
DAV and the mission
 Help with VA Claims and follow up without asking Veteran
about membership
 Should talk up the DAV and ask if they would like to become a
member after doing the paperwork and asking if they are
satisfied with the free service
Department of Alabama
CSO TRAINING
 Every mid-winter we conduct annual training for CSOs in the DAV
Department of Alabama
 Every chapter in the state should send at least one member to CSO
training
 If you don’t have trained CSOs to help fill out VA Claims, the Veterans
go elsewhere for help and are more likely to join another VSO
Department of Alabama