Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/340001
Membership Campaign Brings Renewed Focus Bucking the nationwide trend of membership loss in all organizations, including professional organizations such as the Wyoming Education Association, has become paramount for the WEA Board, WEA staff, and WEA membership. Examining previously gathered information in a new light has given us areas to focus on in our membership and organizing efforts. Thanks to the efforts of WEA leadership, a new focus on trends, data, and effort is being implemented that will lead to positive growth to strengthen the Association. One example of this renewed effort is that WEA is taking advantage of NEA's prorated dues opportunity, which allows new members to sign up later in the year at a prorated dues amount. Collating and organizing data from the membership specialist and graphics from the graphics design department, the WEA Membership Committee created the Grab 3 prorated dues campaign in January of 2014. Working on the premise that if each of the 64 locals in Wyoming "grabbed" three new members, the recent membership slide would be erased and we would start our fall membership campaigns on an even keel. As a result of this year's campaign, Grady Hutcherson, WEA VP and chair of the Membership Committee, is pleased to announce a 125% increase in the number of prorated dues enrollees for the 2013- 2014 membership year. While we failed to achieve our zero-loss goal for the year, the 72 new members of WEA represent a solid finish to our '13-'14 year and position us well for the '14-'15 year. Locals who successfully grabbed three new members or more are listed on the right. Success in this area can be attributed to a variety of efforts by our members and staff. For instance, this campaign coincided with the WEA elections. Membership totals and efforts were rightfully touted by all candidates, who kept this issue at the front of the election. Members took it upon themselves to actively recruit potential members. These efforts were also bolstered by the timing with Delegate Assembly. Each region seized the opportunity during their region D.A. briefings to share information about and encourage participation in this effort. And with the constant advancements in communication technology and its utilization by the WEA communications department, word of this effort was shared around the state in a timely fashion. Following the prorated dues campaign, the Early Enrollment campaign began. Early enrollment is limited to those individuals who agree to join as full dues-paying members in the fall of 2014. Unfortunately coinciding with the end of the school year, this effort has still garnered a 66% increase in early enrollees over the previous year to date, with the summer months still ahead of us. Both campaigns have been valuable in showing WEA positive approaches in dealing with membership numbers and have pushed the topic to the forefront of our members' thoughts during a time of year when traditionally the focus has waned from membership. Lessons learned during these two campaigns are already being studied for next year's effort, with the intent of reversing the slow decline of member totals and bucking this national trend. Wyoming Education Association 27 32 37 72 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 First year doing the Grab 3 Campaign 14-15 Increase in Membership Four Year Increase in Membership 2013-2014 Membership Awards Increase in Membership Natrona County Misc. Arapahoe EA Dubois EA Hot Springs EA Shoshoni EA Ten Sleep EA West Big Horn County EA Worland EA Cheyenne Teachers EA Eastern WY College EA Laramie County Community College EA Big Piney EA Carbon County #2 EA Star Valley/Cokeville EA Sweetwater Admin. EA Sweetwater EA Grab 3 (or more) Natrona County EA Crook County EA Specialists In EA Student Wyoming EA Increase in Membership & Grab 3 Lander EA Riverton EA Albany County EA Goshen EA WEA Local #1 EA WEA Central/ Northeast UniServ Director Judy Trohkimoinen runs the live auction as WEA President Kathy Vetter watches. ICI WEA.indd 10 6/26/14 3:20 PM