Membership Growth?
by Steve Saladino, NAIFA-Florida Membership Chair
I am pleased to announce that NAIFA-Florida is on track for its goal to finish the year with positive membership growth! As of April 30th we have 2,766 members which is 99.07% of our goal to finish the year at 2,792 total members by June 30, 2016.
A large portion of the membership growth comes from the new member Pilot Program which was approved and implemented back in April, 2015 by NAIFA, NAIFA-Florida and all Florida local associations. These Pilot Program new members were provided the opportunity to get a full member view and experience of our federation while deferring dues until their renewal anniversary a year after joining.
As part of NAIFA’s just-released 20/20 Strategic Plan, it was decided to renew these Pilot members at $20.00 monthly beginning this month ($8.00 of the $20 coming to the state which will be split 50/50 with the locals). The third year renewal dues structure is still under evaluation pending initial renewal results as well as overall Pilot member engagement. Thank you to the NAIFA Board of Directors for listening and supporting us in our membership efforts!
Statewide efforts in New Member engagement, orientation and renewals are just now starting to produce a return on investment largely due to the “Passport Program” and best practices that was developed and shared by NAIFA-North Suncoast. New members recruited, new committee members identified and volunteered, new IFAPAC contributors, new corporate sponsors and non-dues revenue are just a few of the preliminary results to date.
Why the question mark in the headline, then?
Although we are introducing more and more new agents to our association, we can’t forget about those who built what we enjoy today. It’s the full-dues-paying members who helped us get to where we are today – in terms of our advocacy efforts and our ability to help agents grow their businesses. Thank you to all of you who have continued to support NAIFA, our industry, and the clients we serve for so many years!
The NAIFA-Florida budget requires 2,535 full-dues-paying members. As of April 30th we have 2,141 full-dues-paying members or 84.46% of our June 30, 2016 goal.
What does your local budget look like? How many more members do you need?
Over the next 60 days our focus must be on sponsoring dues-paying members who can afford and should be members of this association, as well as bringing recently-lapsed members back to an active status. At the end of April we had approximately 580 lapsed members. In speaking with a few lapsed members from across the state I was surprised to find out that many had no idea. With changes in addresses, bank accounts, and expirations of credit and debit cards, lapses can happen very easily.
We will be working with all locals across the state as they conduct a “NEW” membership blitz on May 19th. Our goal is to have “each one reach one” (sound familiar to the old timers?). If each one of us commits to sponsoring just one new member on that day, we will more than exceed our goal of full-dues-paying members to support all of our budgetary needs. Can’t get away from your office or don’t feel comfortable speaking to an audience? We need your help by calling recently-lapsed members and assisting them over the phone in renewing their membership.
Be thinking and asking about any agency meetings or offices where we can visit that day to make a presentation on our value proposition.
As always, there are many volunteer leaders around the state to assist you in your efforts as well as your state board of directors and the staff in Tallahassee.
REMEMBER:
- May Membership Recruiting Blitz: May 19, 2016 (new member recruiting, lapsed calls, agency presentations- results reviewed during call below).
- May Local Membership Committee conference call: (May 19th at 3:00 p.m. (ET). Dial 605-477-2100. Access Code: 1063216# — open to anyone to participate).
- New Member Sponsorship Contest May 1- June 30, 2016 (*$250.00 cash winner to be drawn at NAIFA-Florida Career Conference July 23, 2016 in Orlando. As a sponsor, you will receive one entry for each new member you recruit. The new member(s) you sponsor must have submitted their new member applications to and be approved by NAIFA, as posted in the Online Service Center.).
*$250.00 VISA gift card for full dues paying active membership
Please feel free to contact me directly should you have comments or suggestions.
Kindest regards,
Steven Saladino, LUTCF
NAIFA-Florida President Elect
saladino@verizon.net
(813) 833-3514