Enhancing Membership Retention in the Elks Organization

2. This is where the MPG movie was placed. It has been removed for posting on CTElks.org Warner Bros. 1939 “A Day at the Zoo” & 1941 “Porky’s Snooze Reel”

3. Warner Bros. 1939 “A Day at the Zoo” & 1941 “Porky’s Snooze Reel”

4. Warner Bros. 1939 “A Day at the Zoo” & 1941 “Porky’s Snooze Reel”

5. Lapsation The importance of membership retention

6. Forward • The strength and vitality of any organization is, in large part, dependent upon its ability to maintain or increase its membership numbers. • As a leader your attitude has a powerful impact on others. Whether that attitude is positive or negative depends on the choices you make. You have an obligation to develop a positive attitude, one that inspires the people around you to create an atmosphere that encourages people to become members of our great Fraternity. • Good leaders also possess a passion for membership retention. If enough Elks care, there isn’t any membership goal that we can’t obtain. • We must continue to allow members the freedom to choose their level of involvement; and to keep in mind that if a Lodge can keep Members positive and enthusiastic, we will achieve growth for our Order. • Each of us must accept accountability for membership growth. Your Membership Committee and Lodge Officers must have a genuine hunger to accomplish their goals. • If you have Passion, you will find it an infectious think that will transmit to others who will pledge their heart and soul to grow the membership of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

7. The Lapsation Committee The Laws of the Order, Section 13.090, read in part: the Lapsation Committee “shall investigate and report on all delinquencies in Lodge dues and employ such means and methods as may be best adapted to prevent the dropping from the rolls of members for nonpayment of dues. … The committee shall report at the first meeting in each month.”

8. Let’s start with this: The operation of an Elks Lodge is a business; therefore, it should be run in a businesslike manner. Dues are our accounts receivable. Elks Lodges, like business, cannot survive without a good plan for collecting this income.

9. The poor delinquency record of many Lodges is partially due to the lack of any definite plan or procedure in the collection of dues.

10. Many Lodges drop from 7 to 15 percent of their membership for nonpayment of dues each year.

11. Nationwide, for every three new members initiated, roughly four old members are dropped.

12. Dues collection is a joint problem It is shared by the Secretary, Exalted Ruler and the Lapsation Committee. All must play a role. Remember this; The collection effort begins immediately upon the start of the Lodge Year! Anyone delinquent on April 1 or before is a candidate for being dropped for nonpayment of dues on the following March 31! By June 1, the Committee should have initiated personal contact. Face-to-face contact is better than phone! There is no magic to dues collection – just hard work!

13. Reasons for Relinquishing Membership: • Unable to locate. • No longer interested. • Finances. • Out of jurisdiction. • Dissatisfied with Lodge and Officers. • No time – too busy. • Poor health. • Business reasons. • Other reasons.

14. The questions on the mind of every delinquent “Why should I pay my dues?” “Why should I continue to be a member?”

15. Is that why you’re an Elk? • The community still needs the Elks, and the Elks still need people who care. People like you. • Even if you’re not as active as you used to be, your dues still make our charitable and philanthropic works possible. • Your dues make it possible for your Lodge to continue making your community, your state, your country a better place to live!

16. Lapsation goals we strive for • Reduce the delinquencies of the Lodge • By 10 percent prior to June 30 • By 5 percent prior to September 30 • By 2 percent or less by March 31 • Reduce the total number of members dropped for nonpayment of dues to 2 percent or less at the beginning of the year. • Maintain a year-round watch over delinquencies, and assist and guide the Exalted Ruler and Secretary in their efforts to collect dues. • See that a planned collection program is carried out throughout the year. • Sixty days before a member will be dropped for nonpayment, contact them, suggest partial payment, invite them to share their reasons. • During this month ask someone who knows the delinquent to speak to them personally. This is a good time to get the members propser involved!

17. Lapsation The importance of membership retention

18. Please Remember… We need each Lodge to submit their monthly membership reports on or about the first of each month, so that we can properly monitor our statewide membership status. Be sure to send one copy each to: Your District Deputy DDGER Central William E. Rowe, 2 Lake place, Middletown, CT 06457-6305, Email – ruauconnfan@aol.com DDGER Coastal Ronald Z. Kadar, 207 Hurd Street, Fairfield, CT 06824-5862, Email – kadarjacobr@hotmail.com DDGER East George J. Godard, Jr. PSP, 5 Decab Lane, Quaker Hill, CT 06375-1407, Email – ggodard@sbcglobal.net DDGER Northwest James Sabio, 27 Linda Court, Naugatuck, CT 06770-2203, Email – sabiojames@sbcglobal.net State Membership Chairman Andy Caporossi Please note new address 139 Worth Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518, Email – AndyCPDD@sbcglobal.net The membership committee will once again be recognizing Lodges attaining the best net membership growth this year. There is still time to achieve membership growth in your Lodge before April 1st!