BEHIND THE CONFERENCE DECISION

With only a few days remaining before Rally 2006, Phelps Hobart continues to wrap up loose ends, completing a planning process which was expected to take eighteen (18) months and yet was completed in less than four (4), a truly remarkable feat.

National MOAA reports that memberships are down; on that basis, the “Give Me Ten” campaign was launched. Local chapter memberships are down as well, impacting chapter leadership succession and finances.

Phelps developed the notion that we must reach out far and wide, make a greater effort to explain the mission of informing everyone about MOAA and its work, in short tell what we do as community, and invite others to join the organization at both the national and local chapter levels. He told us early-on he would work hard to recruit new members, and do it by planning and conducting a major convention event.

We must provide information about our professional association with those in our world, the context of the local chapter, and we usually do it by providing testimonials, that is telling our own stories about MOAA and what it does for us. A major effort would be made, with a focus on best practices, to share success stories and ideas, sending attendees home later armed with new tools and techniques for successful recruiting.

Emphasis would be on how we can be wise as we act with people who do not understand or believe, making the most of every opportunity, and not pursuing offensive or in-your-face tactics but an approach characterized by gentleness and respect. Information about how to attract new personalities to general membership luncheon/dinner meetings, board meetings, and even specially organized encounter groups would be offered.

Phelps understood we need to reach out beyond our own world, outside our comfort zone, and approach MOAA members, and there are a lot of them in California, who are not members of local chapters. He thought he could attract these people in numbers, reach common ground, share the message of service and support to members and their families, and pick up a lot of new local chapter members.

Next, Phelps had a vision that we need to reach out all around the world, to new groups such as the active duty uniformed services officer plus the National Guard and Reserve forces, explaining the nature and value of professional associations and again demonstrating how MOAA protects earned entitlements over the years. There are so many military personnel caught up with so many problems that any focus on an organization like MOAA commands a low priority indeed. Phelps thought the CAL-MOAA reach would be extended to these people if the annual meeting was expanded to a full convention.

As we now know, registrations came in very slow and not in the numbers hoped for and expected, causing significant changes in the program and schedule. Many activities thought to attract certain potential new members had to be deleted. In retrospect, the convention idea was a good one and had potential for some interesting and profitable outcomes.

Here’s to you, Phelps! You did a great job, and continue to do a great job, arranging a very nice annual meeting for all of us. It’s been a lot of hard work, and we want you to know we appreciate everything you’ve been doing. You have our hearty “thanks!”

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