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QUESTION: Why should I recruit new ARRL members? |
ANSWER: An organization is only as strong as its new-member recruitment efforts. New members keep organizations alive and running. They provide new ideas and enthusiasm. Here are some suggestions for recruiting new ARRL members!
1) Sponsor an ARRL Membership Night! Encourage each ARRL member that attends the event to "sponsor" a new member. This pairing of members with new members encourages fellowship. Everyone likes to join an organization where new members are met with friendly camaraderie! Here are some activities for ARRL Membership Night:
| YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND...
** GREATER SEATTLE HAM NITE **
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 AT 7 PM
PROGRAM: A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR NEW HAMS AND FUTURE ARRL MEMBERS,
FEATURING...
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR ARRL SECTION MANAGER, JOE HAM AT (555) 555-5555, EMAIL, FAX, WWW... |
2) Maintain Membership Lists. Encourage clubs to keep membership rosters that denote which members hold ARRL membership. Distribute printed rosters twice each year, or post the roster on the club's web site.
3) Get Everyone Involved! Encourage clubs to appoint new ARRL members to various club committees. Ongoing participation is key to long-term membership success (both the club's membership and ARRL membership!).
4) Conduct a letter writing campaign. Ask club newsletter editors to include a "LETTER FROM YOUR SECTION MANAGER" in each newsletter. From time to time, use the opportunity to recruit new ARRL members.
5) Encourage past members to rejoin. Establish a dialogue to understand why the past member hasn't rejoined. Share information about new ARRL services, and explain why it is more important than ever to be an ARRL member.
6) Ask, "ARE YOU AN ARRL MEMBER?" in all of your personal contacts: email exchanges, at hamfests, during club functions, etc.
7) Be Proactive!
Know what ARRL is--its purpose, goals and mission, its structure and services. As a Section Manager, it is vital that you become familiar with your association and to be able to answer general membership questions.
Hams join ARRL for many different reasons. Your challenge is to show potential members the many facets of ARRL, and how our organization benefits individual members as well as the Amateur Radio Service. Besides the obvious ARRL membership benefits and service (QST, awards/contents, QSL Bureau, equipment insurance, etc.) what are some other reasons for joining:
QUESTION: Why should I be a national member of ARRL, if I can just participate locally with a club? |
ANSWER: Your national dues support ARRL and many of our national and local initiatives. Your dues support an organization that represents ham radio operators in governmental matters--such as lobbying to protect our frequency privileges. Your dues go towards communications research, educational outreach, and help supply local volunteers with the materials they need to provide excellent public service.
As the national association for Amateur Radio, ARRL also offers "all-risk" equipment insurance, a monthly journal (QST magazine), local licensing opportunities, technical and regulatory information and answers, and opportunities for volunteers.
QUESTION: But what's in it for ME? |
ANSWER: Here are some benefits ARRL has tailored just for you!
* ARRL frequency defense has protected spectrum from commercial interests that have threatened the frequencies used by hams for public service and communication experimentation.
* ARRL sponsors popular operating activities. Contests and awards such as ARRL VHF QSO Parties, ARRL VHF Sweepstakes, and the VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC) help members evaluate their station resources and contribute to operator skills.
* ARRL contributes to a strong national repeater system by supporting regional frequency coordination. Coordinators strive to facilitate interference-free operation among the thousands of repeaters across the United States and Canada.
* ARRL assists clubs and communities with local interference problems (including repeater jamming) through its Amateur Auxiliary volunteers, recognized by FCC.
* ARRL contests and awards are world-renowned! US amateurs must be ARRL members to compete for the coveted DX Century Club (DXCC) operating award- issued for working and confirming at least 100 entities on the ARRL DXCC List.
* Popular contests, such as ARRL International DX and ARRL November Sweepstakes, help hone operator skills, demonstrate use of valuable radio spectrum, and inspire technological advances. Members compete for attractive certificates and plaques. And, contesting is Fun!
* The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service SAVES members substantial postage fees by conveniently sending DX QSL cards overseas to foreign QSL Bureaus. Many members who utilize the service save many times over the price of their annual membership dues!
* ARRL (and Amateur Radio) exists largely due to its strong foundation of volunteers. ARRL contributes to the Amateur Radio Service by providing opportunities and support for those who enjoy volunteering their service and skills.
* ARRL sponsors the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) and National Traffic System (NTS). ARRL support and several publications make it easy to get involved.
* ARRL-accredited Volunteer Examiners (VEs), and ARRL-registered volunteer instructors ensure that there is abundant opportunity to assist newcomers with licensing, and encourage upgrading to higher license levels.
* ARRL public information appointees and other interested volunteers help represent Amateur Radio in government, the media and the public. Public relations is a grassroots effort with strong national support from staff at ARRL's headquarters.
* ARRL regulatory efforts are strengthened through its support of ARRL Volunteer Counsel and Volunteer Consulting Engineer Programs.
* The ARRL Field Organization is also a good resource for technical assistance! Each ARRL section has a Technical Coordinator (TC) and/or one or more Technical Specialists (TS).
* ARRL spreads-the-word to recruit new hams! Recruitment and promotional brochures, public service announcements, ARRL publications and library initiatives all ensure that Amateur Radio has a constant source of prospective hams.
* Members who are new hams (and all members!) look for answers to their technical questions by utilizing the services of the ARRL Technical Information Service (TIS). Newly licensed members enjoy "The Doctor is IN" column published in QST magazine each month. TIS, QST, and other ARRL resources provide answers to questions about establishing a first station, common technical and interference problems, and more.
* The ARRL Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program brings ham radio curriculum, resources, and equipment to youngsters. Its objective is to promote a "hobby of a lifetime," and preparation for good careers.
* Members enjoy a wealth of original articles published by ARRL on a variety of subjects including theory, tutorials, and projects. The ARRL Lab reviews and creates projects--providing a ready source of construction articles for today's avid radio experimenter.
* QST Product Reviews provide members with a valuable source of subjective comparisons and quantitative data on the operating characteristics of ham radio gear.
* ARRL Members qualify for special, reduced subscription rates for QEX magazine, ARRL's "Forum for Communications Experimenters."
* Membership permits ARRL to devote resources to interference studies, producing cutting-edge publications on digital signal processing and other new technologies, and always contributing to the advancement of the radio art.
Produced by the ARRL Sales & Marketing Department
