Anything in YELLOW is a TO DO—look for who it is intended for:). Anything RED is a “Living List” which can grow as I continue to receive EXCELLENT ideas and feedback from our committee members.
OVERALL COMMENTS: This was a TRUE “brainstorm” and sharing meeting. We all agreed that we need to educate the community about what our center is all about and where it is physically located. We all agreed that are events are amazing and we have a lot to brag about and need to let folks know what is currently going on in the new membership year. We all agreed that we need to work together to get many more members!!!
KUDOS to Susan Chambers who brainstormed with Lee prior to the meeting and had a “white paper” to share that contains advice from an EXPERT in marketing!!! ALSO Kudos to Christiane who prepared our chilli!!! We think food at meetings is a good thing!
***Board Review: Let us know if snacks should be at the board meetings and Membership Committee can be the first to bring goodies to share!
OUR BLOG Blog will be used to show what is happening in our committee.
ALL : Review the blog periodically and feel free to send Jen anything you wish to post for review. This will hopefully put everything on the “same” page! Elizabeth and Jen will be working with the other committee chairs to show how to add to the blog.
MEETINGS: Membership as a whole agreed to meet once a month –2 weeks prior to the regular board meeting. Subcommittees (see below) will meet as needed. In general we will try for the “Center” of the week two weeks before the regular board meeting. Oh...and round food will be served. Also Jen encouraged everyone to always feel free to call and to encourage all to send on their membership ideas. Being present is critical to success !!!
ALL : Let me know date preference for the next meeting- November 3rd Tuesday 7-8pm OR November 4th Wednesday 7-8pm OR November 7th Friday NOON-1pm
QUICK STATS ON CURRENT MEMBERSHIP as of Oct. 7th
- Board Members: 23 out of 40 on the board have paid dues.
- Total HAAC Members as of 7 October: 39 members
- Goal - to have at least 17 more members by December 2009!
Jen shared that the Executive board agreed to do a mail out to 17 folks that need to pay for the Jan. -Dec 2009 year. Discussion led to the review of the HAAC Newsletter from Spring 2005 which shows many more members listed. Jen stated that her neighbor – a former president of the center in 1991 said that there used to be a mail out each year and that was how she supported the center. She has not received a request for being a member for many years so does not give anymore. She mentioned that they used to have a holiday party each year in January to generate more membership. Topic of publicity to promote memberhip came up and Nettie shared that they were in need of finding a chair for the publicity committee. Jen said that she would be in contact with Meriwether and Faith regarding WHO SIGNED UP FOR WHAT COMMITTEE and will make sure it is posted on the blog.
Jen: Will do a mail out to board members that have NOT paid dues. Cards provided by Faith. Cards will be sent out by Friday October 16.
Jen: Will post all the members on our blog (for board members ONLY) AFTER the October 22nd meeting
Jen/Elizabeth: Will post the other committees on our blog and who signed up!
Faith: When sending out reminders about our next meeting via email – include a link to the BLOG and let folks know we will be collecting dues – so bring their check books!
***Board Review: In the past members were listed on the paper newsletter – can we have members on an electronic list on the website?
MISSION/SHARING (5 main items and then look for the brainstorm below)
#1 NEW MISSION STATEMENT: Membership committee is excited for the strategy and NEW mission statement. All agreed that are community needes to be educated on what the center is and does. Jen shared that Meriwether, Paige and Faith met with Curtis Friday October 9th and that strategic planning and forming a new mission statement is an important "first step" for our center. Curtis would like to use a smaller group to do a workshop to achieve this goal. I told our committee that there would be sign ups for this workshop at our next board meeting and that it should be something we can knock out in a few hours. I encouraged all the membership folks to attend – a great group like this will be very useful!
ALL: Consider signing up for the Strategy Planning and Mission Statement workshop. More information will be provided by Meriwether/Faith
#2 NAME CHANGE: All are in agreement that we need a new NAME and new materials brochure and electronic materials to sell memberships to our Center. All agreed that many town members do not know what HAAC means and it's location.
Name Ideas and Slogans:
Hanover Activities Center (since we do not have regular Art classes- leave the art out)
Hanover Community Center (suggestion from Lee Chambers – idea of Hanover included might help with more grants)
Ashland Community Center (focus on our town proper – what should be our target audience was discussed)
Our Center of the Center
THE Center at the Center of the Universe
Are you Centered?
Center-center - HOW CAN WE MAKE IT GLORIOUS? (Carolyn's Idea)
Keep Hanover Arts and Activities Center but always refer to HAAC as "the center"
For a logo (Barbara Keeton's Idea) Have C E N T E R be in larger font so that it stands out
***Board Review: Consider a change and whether we can have designers help us with making new membership materials.
#3 ORNAMENT: (Click here to see picture attachment) Jen shared that Faith researched Hermann pewter ornaments as a potential fund-raiser and provided pictures and price information to share with the committee. Faith stated she needed to know by Friday 10/16 what the text should be on the back of the ornament so we would have these for sale at the holidays. The committee memberss asked whether this was a DONE DEAL and if there was going to be a board vote regarding this. Some folks commented that the ornament is used "one time of the year" and that educating folks about the center - we should look for something that can be used all year. Compromise Idea: As a possibility – we could have a gift section on our Center website and have an agreement with the business that would give the center money for any ornament that is purchased. People could “personalize their ornament and then the center could potentially get more money?!
- Put some historical reference Hanover Arts and Activities Center Established in _______
- Leave the back blank and have someone with a custom engraving device do "special orders" at the center where things could be personalized.
- "Membership Date
- "Thank you for preserving our center.
***Board Review: Vote on whether we should purchase the ornaments and/or consider an alternative ( see marketing materials brainstorm below)
#4 VIDEO: Jen shared that Meriwether met with Tom Wulf about a video to promote our center. We all agreed that it would be a great way to educate folks about THE CENTER !!!! In addition all agreed that it would be great to show at a future Membership Event.
Meriwether/Faith: Is there a timeframe that Tom is thinking to have this accomplished?
#5 MEMBERSHIP EVENT: –January Fest - CLEVER NAME NEEDED: Jen shared that the center is currently available for a “membership drive” on the weekend of Jan. 22 – 23, 2010 Friday – Saturday. All members agreed that would be a good time to have an event. We said we need to work on marketing materials to use at the event. We would be rekindling a historical tradition with the center!
***Board Review: Let us know if we can use the center to promote membership on January 22 2010
***Board Review: Let us know if we can make this an annual event or bi-annual so it can be a part of our literature
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:
Jen shared that in August meeting with Curtis that changing our level benefits would definitely help with increasing membership. Jen gave out our current levels. Many folks on our committee didn't realize we had levels beyond individual and family. Jen presented a quick overview of the Montpelier Center and the Isle of Wight Center and what the different benefit levels are and what activities they have going on in their centers. It was agreed that it would be a good idea to visit other centers to get a feel for the environment and what is offered and what HAAC activities can happen.
Benefit Level Ideas:What could be "benefits"?
- Ticket discount for events such as the Variety Show
- FRONT ROW SEATS for the Variety Show
- Discount on shirts and races for RRR
- Center Bumper Sticker
- One free pass to each of the Center Events
- Key ring give you discounts are Ashland Main Street Businesses – MAP or whoever joins us
- E-Mail newsletter
- Recognition on our Center Website
- Name on SOMETHING (Benches, plaques, etc) that is part of the historic part of the center***
- Lunch with the Dancing Queens at the Iron Horse – or Center Stars!
- Discounts on Travel Programs run by the Center- Bus tour would give back the center for a trip for Seniors for example.
- Model something like the PBS Layering System
ASIDE: We talked about using the outdoor planter space as a place to recognize members – we all agreed that we would need a Development Team to focus on this and of course work with the Landscape committee. Jen stated that McKinney may be willing to do a FREE design for the front of the center to make it asthetically pleasing and allow for friendly outdoor events. The AARP is considering benches for another project and materials were provided by Susan and Lee Chambers to review (www.benches.com)
ALL: The Benefit Level Ideas is a living list – please continue to send your thoughts on this. ***Board Review: Vote on presenting alternative levels at the November meeting once the mission statement and strategy is confirmed.
BRAINSTORMING
All agreed that we need a Membership Committee PRESENCE at every event sponsored by the center and BIG Ashland events like Strawberry Faire, etc.
ALL: Send Jen a list of Ashland EVENTS where you think our Membership Committee should have a representative. Sign up to help create a display for use at each event and materials to use to promote the center. Jen will have a sign up sheet posted on our blog by Oct. 22
Activities: What kind of activities would you like to see at the Center?
- WIRELESS –TECH TALK classes where everyone comes and we use the projection device for tutorials on blogging
- Ball Room Dancing
- Belly Dancing
- Movies on the Lawn
- Card Games
- Things that appeal to Seniors
- Bus tours to COOL Places where a certain cut of the money would go back to the Center!
- Script Readings
- Book Clubs
- Ashland Symphony – where kids of all ages come to play...older kids helping the younger kids who don't have strings at elementary anymore!
- Lantern Lighting and walk about town that ends up at the center. Bonfire outside the center for sharing time together. Ashland's Own FIRST LIGHT! (Riederer Idea:)
- Christmas Trees Displayed at Holiday Time with decorations from all the different Ashland organizations (Riederer Idea:)
- Town GHOST WALKS...like they do in Williamsburg, Savannah
- Essay Contest -
- Sewing workshop
- Children's art competition - pictures of trains
- Center of the Universe TOUR (Scavenger Hunt - get historical information about different locations in our town - at the Center of the Center - a FINAL destination - patrons would receive a special 'prize'
ALL: The Activities Listing is a living list – please continue to send your thoughts on this.
***Faith/Alan A.: Have we considered going wireless at the center in the past? If not - can we research this as a possibility for offering classes or more technology seminars.
Faith: We talked about having an on-line calendar so we would know when the center IS available so the membership committee would know when there was GREEN time to use for membership promotional activities. Other organizations offer this – let us know your thoughts.
Membership Event: January Fest January 22nd - Can we rekindle an OLD tradition and make it AMAZING?!
- Show a WONDERFUL TOM WULF production that educates everyone on the center!!!
- Give out the invitation at the Christmas event!!!
- Have the membership event reflect the atmosphere of the town- have it be an ADULT or FAMILY event is up for discussion.
- Offer a Contest for Naming the Center
- Advertise through EMAIL - e-Newsletter versus Paper
- Reinvent the HAAC in the new year with the Community's help!!!
- It's a New Year at the C E N T E R
ALL: The Membership Event is a living list – please continue to send your thoughts on this.
Marketing Ideas: How do we market our Center?
- Go to local businesses to recruit members. (Jen has emailed Jill Grant regarding Main Street Participation)
- Partner with local businesses to present activities.
- Offer at least one meeting per year for the entire membership at which a really good program – guest speaker comes!
- Plan events that are JUST for seniors
- Get our grant person to solicit donation and sponsorships from big organizations like Target
- Use the Town Channel
- Make sure our presence is associated with 501c3
- Offer discount at stores
- Advertise that you are selling the preservation of our building.
- Define our audience....Western Hanover needs are center even more than Mechanicsville!
- FOCUS on OUTREACH..We Know We Can't Serve Everyone!
- What is our radius
- For the Variety Show year – make being IN THE SHOW be a membership drive! Benefit is that everyone gets their name in the program!!!
- PEOPLE POWER... contest for members who bring in MORE Members (past MC idea shared by Patrick)
- HAVE A CENTER AUCTION with items donated from businesses...include an advertisement from the business ... like PH http://ptsaonlineauction.blogspot.com/
ALL: The Marketing Ideas is a living list – please continue to send your thoughts on this.
Jen: Let committee know the outcome of discussion with Jill Grant and Main Street.
- Key Ring:(have a circular key tab – similar to Ukrops, Target – that would be used to show Center Membership- perhaps with Are you Centered?
- Invitation to give out at the Holiday Event that brags about our events in the FUTURE!!!
- Membership Folder for Prospective Members to include: Brochure, Listing of levels, History of the Building, Contact Information, Committees & Functions
- NEW brochure (electronic format too) to show What's Happening at the Center of the Center- What have we done What is going on in 2010 ***
- Offer PLANNING the event for the GROUP
ALL: The Marketing Materials is a living list – please continue to send your thoughts on this.
Our Membership Subcommittees: What can you do to help?
Brochure – Marketing Materials: Revamp our the current center brochure (see attached) to include new levels and market our “center of the center” . This will also act as an education material. (Christiane)
Mail Out: Participate in mail out of revamped brochure/invitations to center members and “potential members” and “potential donors”.
Research: Learn from what other centers have done successfully. Take field trips (Montpelier, Isle of Wight – others) where we will meet with other membership folks and find out what works and what doesn't. Present new ideas to the committee & board. Research may also include online and phone data. (Carolyn)
Membership EVENT January 2010: With the boards approval – we will rekindle an old tradition of the Center – have a NEW YEARS gathering - “January Party” for all our members and “potential” future members. This will occur on EVEN years (non-Variety show years). Potential Date: January 22nd Friday at the Center – We hope to make this an event that will have the entire town wanting to be members of our Center!
Recruitment: Have a membership presence at each Center event. This will include people and a visual which we will develop. Form partnerships with other town organizations. Assist in developing promotional materials-events-trainings that generate revenue of our Center.
Communication: Making calls to current board members each month as a reminder about the board meetings. Update via blog or email as well.
ALL: Let me know which of the following subcommittees interest you. In parentheses are people that signed up at our Oct. 13 meeting. Thanks in advance for helping!
S U M M A R Y
Please READ and Respond to any yellow items - Add to the Living Lists...send and email with suggestions. Reference the list in your message. Continue to think and share your thoughts with the committee – send all emails to Jen – let me know what you want posted! Keep checking out the BLOG! See you all at the next BOARD MEETING – October 22!!!
SURVEY SENT OUT 10-15-09 Please Respondy By 10-19-09 MONDAY
Click here to fill out the survey:)
Attachments are being scanned and will be posted!!!! THANKS AGAIN. J
excellent job Membership Committee! you're the BEST!
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