Membership Recruiting and Retention Best Practices

1. Membership Recruiting and Retention Best Practices February 20, 2010 Kyle Davidson Portland Chapter President

2. Overview • Portland’s approach to Membership • What does National FEI suggest for Membership best practices? • Examples from other Chapter’s in the Western Region • Specific Goals we can take away to improve current practices

3. Portland Membership Facts

4. Portland Membership/Retention Committee Responsibility Membership & Retention – The Membership Committee recruits potential new members through a variety of activities. It processes membership forms and acts as a liaison with the National Membership Committee. Specific activities include: • Work closely with the Treasurer and National to ensure accuracy of membership data. • Reach out to all new members, especially at chapter meetings, to ensure smooth transitions into the chapter. • Send welcome letters highlighting membership benefits. • Encourage absent members to become active members, sending emails, using delinquency list from National. • Devise and implement innovative ways to attract new members, including canvassing other chapters for successful methods. • Solicit friends of the chapter to help attract new members and retain current ones. • Making calls to target members to invite them to join, maintaining prospect list. • Hold annual new member breakfast, inviting new members to orientation. • Consider holding an annual prospect meeting or reception to explain benefits of FEI.

5. 2008-2009 MEMBERSHIP GOALS • Increase by 20 new, net 10 new • Went from 197 to 187, net 10 decrease • 15 new additions • 19 departures • net 6 transfers out to other chapters • Identify potential recruits at annual PD session and CFO of the year for follow up • Get more active in CFO of the year nominations • Perform member survey to help with retention • Reinforce at meetings/in newsletter that FEI members are welcome to bring potential FEI members and their CEO/COO as guests

6. 2009-2010 MEMBERSHIP GOALS • Increase membership by 5, net, excluding transfers out to other chapters • Prospect list management • Increase awareness of FEI as an organization • Recruit nominees for CFO of the Year Awards • Follow up on nominees to become members

7. Portland Membership Committee Activities • Committee meets monthly by phone • 5 members on committee, including 2 Friends • Tracking lists • Potential members • At risk members (delinquent dues) • Activity list (add, delete, move support) • “At-large” National Members that we can invite to be local members • Meeting rosters to coordinate guests and guest follow up • Linked In • Responsible for CFO of the Year Award • Potential member contact and follow up • Annual new member orientation every fall

8. Portland Membership Committee Activities • Have Monthly item in newsletter • Membership news updates • Encourages members and Friends to bring guests • Potential members are introduced and applauded at dinner meetings • Immediate and constant follow up performed by VP of Membership • Dinner speakers are a good draw for potential members/guests • Prospective Membership Mixers • Fall and Spring • Raffle prize given (bottle of wine) drawn from people who bring guests, member or Friend is a winner • For March meeting, asking members to tell us who to invite, if they don’t know them well enough to directly invite

9. National Membership Recruiting Best Practices • Successors should be identified and groomed well in advance of expected rotation • Membership chair support – recruitment is everyone’s job • Use multiple sources to identify prospects • Remember the importance of personalized contact • Use National office marketing tools and supplies • Incentive programs, such as prize drawings

10. National Membership Recruiting Best Practices • Monthly reports to Board about membership • Be familiar with application form option • National reports – weekly and monthly activity and chapter status • Pointers for recruitment: • Contact prospects early in the year and qualify them during initial contact • Use company letterhead or FEI letterhead • Personal contact is a must, phone them to confirm attendance at meetings • Personally greet them and follow up after mtg

11. Membership Best Practice Examples • Seattle (Patty) • Prospective member event with sponsors driving guest list • Recruitment is a primary role of the sponsors • Task force for the next generation • C-level breakfast with Marie • Orange County (Margaret) • 150 people at meetings, including 30 prospective members • Strategic partners are responsible for bringing guests and members do, too. Dinner free for guests. • Retention – great meetings, good speakers, free wine • Reach out to possible members with letters and calls

12. Membership Best Practice Examples • Los Angeles (Marzi) • Joint meeting with Treasurer’s Club, USC Governor’s conference • Sponsor of CFO of the Year Award • Personal relationships, bring prospective members to meetings • Arizona (Gayle) • Excel workbook with all data in one place • Paid members and attendance • Former members and why they did not renew • Prospects – guests, CFO of the year candidates • San Francisco (Larry) • Send out dues early and follow up early for retention • Sponsors obligation is to bring qualified potential members • $25 Amazon gift card for members that bring guests • Active phone call follow up

13. Membership Best Practice Examples • Sacramento (Mark) • Enthusiastic Board Member as Membership Chair with Goal • Members are rewarded with tickets to theatre and dinner if they bring in a new member that signs up • Personal interaction to encourage sign up guests • Colorado (John) • Inland Empire (Dwight) • Good growth from 30 to 46 last year • Invited people to meetings, ongoing personal contact • Free dues first year of membership

14. Specific Goals we can take away to improve current practices What ONE new thing are you going to try: • Portland • Seattle • Orange county • Los Angeles • Arizona • San Francisco • Sacramento • Colorado • Inland Empire