POINTS TO PONDER
Issue 02-06
from your Federation President
NARFE Members of California:
MATCHING FUNDS: When the Public Relations Department at
National Headquarters conceived the "Matching Funds" program, the idea was
to encourage Chapters and/or Federations to allocate funds to publicize NARFE
and to recruit new members.
Realizing that most Chapters and Federationa are not flush with money,
Headquarters thought if they assisted with funds that some chapters might be
willing to invest their own funds in a Public Relations/Membership Outreach effort.
Only a few Chapters in California have invested in this program. It would
appear that either Chapters don't know about the program, or they don't understand
it. So here is how it works.
A Chapter may wish to publicize NARFE at a Health Fair wherein they feel
about 500 people would pass by their table top display. The cost of a display board
to show NARFE posters and pamphlets may be $150.00 and the entry fee with a table
and/or booth at the fair may be another $50.00. Thus, a known cost of $200.00 could
be offset by National Headquarters matching 1/2 the cost or $100.00 in this case.
A Chapter may wish to run a series of ads in a newspaper for "National Chapter
Meeting Month" which featues a speaker on a subject of general interest to all.
Considering that a newspaper ad must be at least 1/4 page in size and be run for a
minimum of three times, the cost may be about $1,000.00 of which $500.00 would be
matched by National.
One Chapter in California developed a "Membership Action Plan" to recruit
new members. The plan included a specific list of seven items to recruit new members;
a specific list of three items to retain existing members; a specific list of four items to
increase attendance at Chapter meetings; and a log maintained to track progress. The
total cost of these items was about $400.00. The Chapter felt they could afford about
1/2 of the cost or $200.00 in this case. National provided matching funds for the other
1/2 of the total cost.
I encourage all Chapters to be creative and develop a program to publicize NARFE
and/or recruit new members and take advantage of the matching funds. The program
you develop needs to consider the potential audience and the potential number of
prospective members who may see and respond to the advertisement. An outline of
your program needs to be sent to your Federation President for approval before it can
be sent to National for Matching Funds.
Till next time ...
Your California Federation President, Lea Zajac
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