by Michele Gillis
Staff Writer
Need members? The local builders association did, and they went after them.
Result: success. Big success: a 15 percent gain.
Scott Merritt of NEFBA was in charge of the membership drive.
“Our goal was to increase membership to strengthen the association at large while raising awareness of the importance of membership,” said Scott Merritt, the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s staff member who coordinated the effort. “We had the membership drive to create enthusiasm and excitement while sustaining awareness of membership. The drive was held in the first quarter to carry momentum for the rest of the year.”
This year’s theme was “Membership Boot Camp: Back to the Basics.”
“This allowed the membership committee to form teams to compete against each other collectively and independently,” said Merritt. “It created a fun and competitive atmosphere. There were also incentives for the new members to join totaling $2,000. These were services offered by fellow members.”
Merritt said NEFBA’s membership has been affected just like other organizations, but that the drive really helped.
“Overall membership has trended down in the building industry as a whole,” said Merritt. “We were down members through the new economy.”
The local drive was part of a statewide effort coordinated by the Florida Homes Builders Association and assisted by the Kentucky-based Oliver group, which specializes in membership campaigns. This year there were 10 other local associations that participated.
The St. Augustine Women’s Council of Realtors also recently held a membership drive and is happy with its results.
“WCR St. Augustine Regional Chapter has retained its membership for this year and added both new Realtor and Affiliate memberships,” said Anthony Bosco, vice president of membership. “Our current Membership is 122 members and growing. We started a Membership Contest at the beginning of the year and the results have been wonderful. My personal goal as vice president of membership is to increase our numbers by 100 percent in the coming year.”
Bosco said they have membership drives to boost awareness of WCR to local Realtors and affiliates.
The Jacksonville WCR also had a membership drive this year and will have more coming soon.
To recruit new members, the Jacksonville WCR membership committee is also delivering informational flyers to Realtor offices. Wright also promoted WCR at Realtor sales meetings as well.