CDR JERRY LOEB, USN (RET) ON MEMBER RECRUITING

As a dedicated “contrarian” (and not much of Team Player) who asks not “Why?” but “Why Not?” — there are many roads to Mecca (which have not yet been bombed).

Seriously, there are some other parallel methods for recruiting. Such as getting close to the local Military Officer Recruiters and bringing them into MOAA as well. I have been asked to participate here in Southern CAL as a NROTC interviewer for our NROTC applicants. That is still in the mix until Fall 2009. By extension of utilizing the Military Officer Recruiters out there, we could extend our “reach” somewhat.

Sufficient manpower is always a challenge. However, it has been my limited experience, that one must “ask” for others to pitch in. Directly. “Will you help us and yourself?” type ask. Telephone banks (Trees) are usually effective methods — along with the proper training and a solid message/request. Most retired military folks just want to live as healthy a full life as possible and enjoy what time is still remaining on the clock. Understood.

If I were a Chapter President, I would bring in the Military Officer Recruiters (some are Senior Non-Commissioned) and involve them in MOAA matters — quid pro quo — for having a select few of our MOAA retired military members assist them in recruiting and interviewing prospective quality ROTC, Academy et al applicants. Many of our MOAA retirees would enjoy this program and their continuing military contributions within their areas of expertise (not yet fully retired). continue reading

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CHAPTER PRESIDENTS TELL HOW TO IMPROVE RECRUITING

Delegates to the October 2008 Chapter Presidents Symposium at Lake Tahoe, NV, examined how they can improve recruiting in their local chapters. Leaders then developed the following recommendations:

Leaders identified possible membership groups, which include:

–retired officers;

–recently retired officers;

–currently serving officers;

–auxiliaries/surviving spouses;

–National Guard and Reserve officers; and

–Former officers.

Tactics for recruiting retirees include:

–Aggressive publicity campaigns;

–Word of mouth referrals;

–Adding a “Join Now” button to the chapter’s website;

–Asking for retirees’ support because the chapter needs their experience; and

–Including a membership application in the chapter’s newsletter, and using the newsletter as a recruiting tool.

Recruiting tips for recently retired officers who have children in school include:

–Touting the chapter’s scholarship program, if one exists;

–Promoting the chapter’s job networking program, if one exists; and

–Talking about the chapter’s support of local ROTC and JROTC programs. continue reading

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National MOAA gives justifiable recognition to one of Cal-MOAA Chapter members. View the details from the blog home page with this same title down on the lower right hand side of the blog homepage.

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CHAPTER MEMBER BRIEFS BOARD ON RECRUITING SECRETS

There was general shock when CWO2 David Sharbutt, USMC-Ret, told Riverside March Field Chapter board members that he should be able to recruit 100 new members by December 31, 2009.

He had already recruited more than a dozen and a half new members during January and the first week of February.

Described as a “recruiting dynamo,” David is an experienced professional, having served as a Marine Corps recruiter. He graduated at the top of his recruiting training class.

“I have recruited two Army colonels walking down the street on their way to meet with a general and had a major in the PX fill out his application on my back,” he said. continue reading

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COUNCIL NAMED GIVE ME 10! QUARTERLY WINNER July 16, 2008

Congratulations on being named a Give Me 10! Quarterly Award Winner for the 2nd Quarter 2008. Enclosed is a check for $250.00 which we hope you will use to help support recruiting efforts in Cal-MOAA. Thank you for your strong support of this year’s campaign and good luck in the months ahead.

So far you and other council and chapter leaders have recruited over 1830 new national and chapter members–ahead of last year at this time and on a record setting pace.

Thanks for all you do!

Sincerely, and all the best!

Norb

VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr. USN (Ret) President

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QUARTERLY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The month of July finds the 2008 Give Me 10! campaign numbers rising like the summer temperatures! As of the June 30, council and chapter members have recruited more than 1,830 new members.

The end of June closed out our second quarter competition. The winning state councils, which recruited the most new members between April 1 and June 30, are:

–Northeast Region: Bay State Council – 20 new members; –Southeast Region: Georgia MOAA Inc. – 33 new members; –Midwest Region: Indiana Council – 53 new members; and –West Region: California Council – 28 new members. –The independent chapter winners, which are not represented by a state council, are:

–Northeast Region: Narragansett Bay (R.I.) Chapter – 1 new member; –Southeast Region: no independent chapters; –Midwest Region: Great Plains (S.D.) Chapter – 6 new members; and –West Region: Rattlesnake (Idaho) Chapter – 5 new members.

The winning councils and independent chapters for the second quarter each will receive a $250 campaign incentive check. Congratulations to the winners in this close competition, and start gearing up for next quarter!

Source: MOAA Call to Action

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CHAPTER MEMBERSHIPS, LIKE CALIFORNIA’S FISH, ARE IN DECLINE

For a variety of reasons, the number of salmon returning to the Klamath and Sacramento Rivers has been in severe decline in recent years. As a result most off-shore sport and commercial fishing has been halted or severly curtailed effective in April 2008.

But there is one bright spot: Butte Creek in Northern California.

Allan Harthorn, executive director of Friends of Butte Creek, has been fighting for more than 10 years to save the spring run of Chinook salmon once so plentiful in this wild tributary of the Sacramento River.

Recently mature salmon could be seen jumping and rolling as they made their way up the stream just outside Chico.

The fast-flowing Butte Creek now holds the largest population of wild-run chinook, or king salmon, in the Sacramento River system, something like 10,000 adult fish, a great number considering only 14 fish returned to spawn in 1987.

One conclusion: Despite the almost complete collapse of the salmon fishery in California, there are still healthy salmon where there is healthy habitat. continue reading

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890 NEW MEMBERS TO DATE

Dear Council and Chapter President:

Congratulations! The 2008 GMT Campaign is taking off - to date we have recruited over 890 new members.

Early last month we announced the top recruiting council and independent chapters in each of the four regions for the 1st Quarter. Remember - A quarterly council winner can not win consecutively but may win two out of the four quarters. The non-aligned Chapters will compete by region for the Top “independent” Recruiter award. Same rules apply - an independent chapter cannot win consecutively but can win two out of the four quarters for which the awards are presented. Each quarter the winning councils and the top independent chapter will receive a $250 campaign incentive.

The “field” is wide open for the second quarter - I hope to see your name listed with the other winners in early July.

This is the time of the year, late April, May and June, to recruit newly commissioned ROTC graduates. In our travels Lee and I observe many of you taking full advantage of this opportunity. I’d encourage you all to seize this opportunity. This is a great program that pays dividends for both the new officers and the chapters. continue reading

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