THE CHALLENGES KEEP COMING!

Apparently there are many officers across California who would be interested in national MOAA and local chapter membership.

Making contact can be difficult at best.

The prospective member and lapsed member lists are a good place to start. Some chapters are mailing a copy of the chapter’s newsletter, a special letter of invitation, often a “Who We Are -and- What We Do” summary, and even a revised membership application reflecting current promotions. It’ll be close, but all that usually can be mailed with a single $0.41 first class stamp.

Officers on active duty as well as drilling Guard and Reserve officers are eligible for a free national MOAA first year membership; in some cases, local chapters also offer a free one year membership.

Officers not serving on active duty are eligible for for a two year membership at the regular annual $27 rate, effectively receiving the first year free. Auxiliaries pay $24.

Doing the mailing is often the only way a chapter has to reach retired and former officers; it can be an important investment.

The business community suggest such mailings will generally bring a 2-3% response. Indeed, one chapter in 2006 mailed 500 pieces and obtained 10 new members.

Local chapters with military installations, National Guard armories, or Reserve facilities are at a decided advantage.

Success comes from a personal visit, an opportunity to meet with a prospective officer, the chance to introduce the concept of the military professional association and MOAA, and display “Military Officer” magazine, the chapter’s newsletter, perhaps a summary of local chapter events and activities, and a membership application.

Recent experience shows that simply mailing a letter and application blank to an officer usually will not result in a new membership.

It’s important to meet in person, make an appropriate presentation, and ask the officer to complete the application then and there.

It’s a surprise to some that a prospective officer, when offered free national MOAA and local chapter first year memberships, will decline the offer. Perhaps there’s something psychological there–if it’s free, it must have little or no value.

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