HOW TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP AND RETAIN IT

R10 MEET Singapore30th March 2005

Presented by: Prof. S V Sankaran

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 2

IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERS

IEEE exists and functions for the MEMBERS.

MEMBERS are the most important stakeholder group in IEEE.

Membership dues are a major source of revenue to IEEE.

How to grow and nurture membership is of vital importance to IEEE.

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 3

CORE MEMBER GROUPS

Among member grades – Life, Fellow, Senior Member, Member, Associate & Student - the following require KEY ATTENTION:

MEMBERS

STUDENTS

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 4

CORE MEMBER GROUPS…contd

MEMBERS are the basic building block of IEEE structure,

-- and key dues paying entity

-- SM, F, LMs evolve from Members

STUDENTS are the FUTURE of IEEE. The future generation of IEEE members will evolve from Student members.

MD programs should pay particular attention to building both these core groups.

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 5

FOUR R’s OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

RECRUITMENT

RETENTION

RECOVERY

RECOGNITION

We will highlight some BEST PRACTICES for each of these …

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 6

RECRUITMENT

Organize an event of broader appeal, open to non-members.

Attract new and varied crowd to these events.

Customize these for Section, Society and Student orientations.

Specially promote IEEE membership at technical conferences and similar events

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 7

RECRUITMENT …contd

Use Half-year Dues period – 1 March to 31 August – as peak recruitment time. First timers can test and taste IEEE membership with only half the dues investment.Use Half-year Dues period similarly to promote Society membership with existing members.

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 8

RECRUITMENT …contd

Use special IEEE promotions to advantage:

Member-Get-A-Member program

Student-Get-A-Student program

Senior Member nomination by Sections & Chapters

Conduct Senior Member nomination events

Identify IEEE liaison volunteers (‘nodes’) at key industries/companies/institutions

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 9

RETENTIONBiggest challenge of IEEE – having got the members, how to retain them YEAR after YEAR …

Train officers and Life Members to be able to give presentations to various groups on VALUE of IEEE membership

Use SAMIEEE and other IEEE resources to track members, eligibility for SM, etc.

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 10

RETENTION …contd

Use SAMIEEE and GOLD to track student members, especially those about to graduate Establish GOLD members as key liaison (‘nodes’) for interaction with their alma mater and faculty/student membersEstablish, as broadly as possible, a Mentoring program

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 11

RECOVERY

In spite of all efforts, a percentage of members of ALL grades do not renew, arrears members identified by the Terminator program run at Feb end.Use SAMIEEE, Industry volunteer contacts and other IEEE resources to track members in arrears and plan a campaign (email, phone are effective)Use SAMIEEE and GOLD to track defaulting student members and plan a campaign (email especially)

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 12

RECOGNITION

Good Recognition helps boost all the other three R’sPeer recognition important for all member levels, including student membersRecognize Senior Members, Fellows - at AGM or separate Awards Event - conducted once or twice a year - give certificates, plaques, etc.

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 13

RECOGNITION

Publish names of SMs and Fellows in Section/Chapter newsletters and websites

Recognition of all categories of IEEE volunteers, including MD volunteers, MOST IMPORTANT.

Give certificates, awards, mention their names & thank them at events.

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 14

WHAT SECTIONS / CHAPTERS NEED TO DO

First step is to ensure that EVERY Section or Chapter has an MDCAll the above tasks listed under the four R’s, are not one person’s job. Need an MD team (committee) and a battalion of volunteersIdentify particular MD actions for FOCUS each year (ex. Recovery of student members, SM or Fellow nominations, etc.)Have yearly appraisal of effortsRecognition of good MD volunteers

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 15

WHAT REALLY MATTERS …

Ultimately, it is the HUMAN element that makes ALL the difference

Yes, it is committed MD Chairs and volunteers who will deliver results

Seek to find these quality volunteers -- THEY ARE PRECIOUS !!

30 March 2005 R10 MD Training Singapore 16

Always looking for new ideas and suggestions

THANK YOU !!!