Created By Rich Wlosinski M.E.A. Membership Chairman
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Purpose: To inform the membership of the state of the critical
problem that lapsation has become. Present reasons that members
become delinquent with dues payment. Present ideas for decreasing
membership delinquency that both work and dont work. Show to the
E.R.s and officers of the Lodges why it is imperative that stopping
the lose of members is now a top priority, even more then
increasing membership.
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Michigan Statistics Statistics are based on the November 2012
Grand Lodge Membership Report. National membership net gain- 2.2%
Michigan Net membership gain-1.9% National delinquency rate;- 9.3%
Michigan delinquency rate- 9.3% Michigan has over 2240 members that
are 6, 12, or 18 months delinquent. Over 2,000 are 12 months
behind.
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Grand Lodge Statistics Statistics are based on the March 31,
2012 Grand Lodge Membership Report. Membership Gain/loss by state
1. Louisiana 2,016 Gain: +157 48. Oregon 28,680 Loss: -1,010 49.
Florida 60,008 Loss: -1,343 50. Michigan 23,783 Loss:-1,391
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Florida Membership Survey Survey was presented by the Florida
Membership Campaign with the question being asked is Why are we
losing members 4,905 surveys sent to Delinquent Members 419 (8.54%)
were usable out of the 696 returned (bad addresses, deceased
member, dues paid equaled 277 not usable returned surveys)
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Observation #1 Contacting delinquent members by mail DOES NOT
WORK! 4905 @ $0.45 EACH = $2207.25 for postage only. 419 responses=
91.46% not returned or unusable. $2018.75 spent on unusable or no
response surveys. Paper, envelopes, printing and time need to be
included in the total cost involved.
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How many years have you been an Elk? 1 or 2 years15% 3-5
years16% 6-10 years19% 11-20 years16% Over 20 years24% Not given
10%
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What Have You Valued Most About Your Elks Membership 74%
Social/Club 26% Charity/Community Service
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Do you intend to renew your Elks Membership this year? 81% - NO
19% - Yes
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Reasons for Not Renewing Membership #1 Cost Prohibitive/Dues
Too High 36% of respondents What should they be? $45-$50 total* *
This is from Florida residents who tend to be retired and on fixed
incomes.
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#2 Health Reasons (18%) #3 Did not Feel part of the Group (
17%) #4 Cliques/Groups to which you didnt belong to. (13%) #5 Needs
for fellowship not met (11%)
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#6 No longer living in area (11%) #7 Disorganized Leadership
(8%) #8 Poor Communication Amongst Members (8%) #9 Time Demands
(Family, Work, Etc.) (7%)
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Final Significant Response Did Any Lodge Officer/Member Contact
You About Non-payment of Dues? 88% of Those Who Answered The
Question Said NO!
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Those Leaving Us Tell Us: Our Dues are Too High The Failing
Health of our Older Members Our members are moving out of state
Time Demands from Family & Work Leave them No time. Our members
Do Not Feel They are a Part of the Group Cliques are Alienating Our
Members We are NOT meeting the Fellowship Needs of Members OUR
DISORGANIZED LEADERSHIP Poor Communication with our members
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Survey Observation The Leaders of our Lodges are Concerned
about the Revolving Door. M.E.A. Leadership notes that for every
new member initiated, 5 are leaving out the back door They Realize
We need to do More to Recruit new Members and more importantly,
RETAIN CURRENT MEMBERS.
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Conclusions #1 We Must Change the Atmosphere in our Lodges to
Make them warmer, Friendlier, & More Inviting to our Members.
In Addition, We Must No Longer Tolerate the Politics &
In-fighting that Divides our Members and destroys our Lodges. We
have got to find ways for Everyone to Just Get Along!
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#2 We have got to do a better job recruiting, educating and
involving new members Recruitment type open houses Better
communicate our values and expectations prior to giving an
application Better communicate the responsibilities of the proposer
Expand our indoctrination to make it more educational & less
structured. Develop a mentoring program for new members to better
involve them in the Lodge after Initiation
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#3 In order for our Efforts To Be Effective we Must Work
Together To Develop Sound Strategies and Objectives that can be
easily Implemented at the Lodge Level.
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Lapsation Prevention Before an application is given out: Have
you explained that the Elks are Not social clubs. Our reason for
existence is to help our neighbors and community by doing
charitable projects. Have you asked them to join you doing a
charitable or community activity. There is nothing secret about
filling Christmas baskets, a goal judge at Hoop Shoot or working at
a veterans activity. Do they understand that the club is a family
place not a place to escape from the family.
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Lapsation prevention At Investigation: Yes, you have to ask the
3 or 4 mandatory Grand Lodge questions, but use this time to start
the formation (indoctrination ) process. Now would be a good time
to give an in-depth explanation of ENF, Major Project, Gold Key and
your own Lodge charity groups you help. Explain that at orientation
(indoctrination) they will be asked to join ENF, would they like to
do that now.
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Lapsation prevention The candidate needs to understand that
joining and initiation is only the first step in membership. Active
participation in lodge committees and projects is the second step.
Explain that active participation immediately in the lodge is
strongly encouraged. They cant be forced, but if they are only
joining for cheap drinks, the bands or discounted hall rental,
maybe they shouldnt join at all. If your Lodge has a Lodge activity
interest sheet, now would be the time to go over it.
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Lapsation prevention At orientation (indoctrination): Have the
candidate fill out Lodge activities sheets. Spouses of the
candidates should be encouraged to attend orientation. Impress upon
them that they are welcome and encouraged to help at any Lodge
activity. A spouse active in the Lodge will greatly reduce the
chance of the member becoming delinquent in dues payment. The
history of the Order and your Lodge should emphasize charitable and
community service.
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Lapsation prevention The Second Step Program As some sponsors
are very good at seeing their candidates become active members,
others are not. The Lodge has a vested interest in seeing every new
member become active and feel a part of their Lodge. The Second
Step Program is designed to get every new member active and meeting
other members while making them feel they are a needed valuable
member of the Lodge.
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Lapsation prevention The Second Step Program can be found in
its entirety on the Michigan Elks Assoc. web site. Go to Programs
Membership. It can be read or down loaded from that site. If you
have any questions about the program contact your District or the
State Membership Chairman.
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Once the Member has Lapsed: It is imperative that any member
who is late paying their dues needs to be contacted quickly. The
longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to get them to be
paid up. Secretly, every human likes it when they have been noticed
missing from something in a good way. Joe, we really missed you
from that planning meeting, you always bring up such great points.
Mary, girls night out just wasnt the same without you! Please, for
our sake, dont miss the next one!
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Once the Member has Lapsed: As the weeks and months pass,
seeded of discontent begin to be sown. Hhmm its been ___
weeks/months that my dues have been passed due. Nobody from the
Lodge has noticed. Guess they dont really need me as a member. Im
___ months delinquent and nobody seems to care if Im there at the
Lodge or not. Once discontent takes root, it can be a nearly
impossible task to get a member to return to being a member in good
standing within the Lodge.
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Ideas to get a member back Month 0-1 DONT start calling
delinquent members just yet. It could be dues are crossing paths in
the mail or pay day might not have come yet. They could need 2 or 3
pays to save up for their dues. Give them the benefit of the doubt.
Month 1-4 This is the only time mail can be used successfully.
Grand Lodge has several past due notices available for the Lodge
secretary to send out that are not confrontational but a friendly
reminder style.
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Ideas to get a member back A hand written short note from the
E.R. noting their absence and how their talent, help, ect. is
missed from the Lodge. Ask if there is anything the Lodge can do to
help them be back in good standing with the Lodge. Note that
Brotherly Love also included helping a member in distress. This
doesnt need to be personally written by the E.R. but by an officer,
secretary or office staff member. This note should be followed up
with a repeat dues notice within two days of the note being
sent.
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Ideas to get a member back Check committee the programs then
membership section of the M.E.A. web site for a pre-made script to
use for phone contacts with members with lapsed memberships. Month
5 and beyond The only method that shows any high degree of hope to
get a member back to paid up status is by using direct and personal
contact. A phone call or face to face meeting is the best. Be
sincere when asking them why they let their membership lapse. Ask
them to rejoin!
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Lapsation Prevention Suggestions #1 Dues Are the dues being
used to support the social end of the Lodge? Are you overstaffed
with employees? Have you checked to see if food/booze/supplies can
be purchased at a cheaper price? Are you being as energy efficient
as possible?
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L.P.S. cont. #2 Health Are you looking for new members in their
30s and 40s or people in their 70s? #3 & 5 Not part of the
group/Fellow ship not met. Rotate chairman on committees. Ask
members who havent been on a committee to be on a committee. Second
Step will help fix this problem.
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L.P.S.cont. #4 Clique and exclusive group issues. All groups
within a lodge must allow any member to join. Any group that
requires a vote or will exclude a lodge member from joining is
illegal per Grand Lodge Statutes. The group must allow any member
to be a part of them or be disbanded. Cliques need to be confronted
as they will cause splits within the lodge. Peer pressure from the
membership directly is one way to make the cliques change.
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L.P.S. cont. #6 not living in area Not much that can be done
except suggest a transfer or absolute demit. #7 Disorganized
Leadership Lodge Leadership should be based on ability not
popularity M.E.A. Leadership Development Seminars.
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L.P.S. cont. #8 Poor communication with members. Due to high
postal and printing costs, many Lodges have gone to a single page
bulletin. E-mail Facebook Web sites
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L.P.S. Cont. #9 Time constrains Have workers lined up weeks in
advance and send out a reminder a week before. Have the projects
organized so a family can come and help with it. Parents will be
more willing to help if they dont have to pay for baby sitting or
leaving the kids at home. Try and have work sessions in 2 or 4 hour
blocks.
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L.P.S. cont. #10 Officers never calling lapsed members Lodge
officers need to step up and take responsibility for the lodge to
stop lapsation. Personal contact by lodge officers is essential if
you want to return a member to paid status and become productive in
lodge projects.
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Conclusion The lapsation problem in the state of Michigan has
reached critical levels. As a state, we lost more members in Grand
Lodge year 2011-12 than any other state or territory in the Elks
organization. The M.E.A. Leadership and State Membership Chairman
developed this presentation to show the seriousness and reasons
lapsation has become a problem. Hopefully it should eliminate
wasting time and energy trying to figure the causes and developing
solutions. Lodges and Lodge officers need only implement the ideas
presented to start reversing the lapsation issue at their
Lodge.
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If you have ANY concerns, questions, or ideas, feel free to
contact your District Membership Chairman or the State Membership
and Lapsation Chairman directly for any help your Lodge may
need.