Membership . . .  A Plan for Success
How do we create the atmosphere where we can provide personal attention?
•	 We Plan Ahead of Time!
The success of your membership recruiting effort depends upon the effort, work and skill YOU apply in the initial Planning.

Who is Involved in the Planning . . .  Your Leaders

•	Bridge Officers
•	Membership Committee
•	PR Committee
•	Membership Involvement
•	Education Committee

What is involved in Planning?

•	Task Lists
•	Assigned Action Items
•	Mile Stones
•	TimeLines

What are the Action Items?

•	Basically, each task is assigned to a person or group for action.
•	Thus, an action item!

What are the Action Items?

•	Basically, each task is assigned to a person or group for action.
•	Thus, an action item!

What are Milestones
•	A Milestone is a due date of when the action item is supposed to be complete.
•	 Otherwise, human nature has a tendency to put off until tomorrow what should be done today.
•	 We all need a timeframe in which to accomplish our goals . . . Our assigned tasks!

Why Planning?
•	To know where we are going, and how to get there.
•	To have a defined set of goals.
•	Everyone knows what is expected of them
•	Create responsibility and follow thru!
When should we start Planning?

Education Department creates a class schedule for the year with dates, locations and teachers.

Public Relations should be getting the word out to community beginning two months before any scheduled class.

Member Involvement should have one proctor for every anticipated 3 to 4 students lined up at least one month in advance of the class.

The Planning Team
•	Commander
•	SEO and Education Department
•	Public Relations
•	Member Involvement
•	Membership
Working together for a common goal is FUN!
Commander’s Planning Responsibilities
•	Holds meeting of the Planning Team
•	Completes the task list with due dates for EVERY action item.
•	Follows up with Committee chairs at least once a month and indicates the date of completion on the task list.
•	Has follow up meetings with the Planning Team
Education’s Planning Responsibilities
•	Organize classes for the year and determine who will take class signups.
•	Teachers should take at least 5 minutes during each class session to explain something about USPS.

Ideas for 5 minute Presentations
•	Show an ensign, explain its significance, give history of USPS.
•	Provide written information about the local squadron.
•	Provide information regarding the benefits of joining USPS.

More Ideas for 5 minute Presentations
•	Explain about the advanced classes.  Bring some of the text books for students to look at during the break.
•	Have a picture board on display of squadron activities.  Talk about social and Cruise activities. Talk about FUN!
•	Explain what Co-Op Charting is.

Public Relations Responsibilities
•	Get the word about new classes out to community in advance of the class.
•	Place posters in stores, send mailers to boaters in the area, advertise in local newspapers, get public service announcements on the radio. 
Member involvement
•	Obtain the proctors for the classes.
•	Have a party for graduation night.  Get members, proctors, and all Bridge officers to attend.  
Membership’s Responsibilities
•	Train the proctors before the first class starts.  

•	Have Membership material available to hand out during the classes.
Proctor’s Training
•	Ask Proctors not to stand in the back with their friends, but to sit with students.  No Proctors should be sitting or standing next to another proctor!

•	Before each class starts, proctors should fan out and talk to all the students.  Ask them questions about their boating experiences, likes and dislikes, and offer to answer any questions.

Proctors Training
•	The Proctors should become the students friend.  

•	This could be the start of a great Mentor Program.
Membership Materials

Create a brochure for your Squadron describing your activities and your advanced classes.
So Remember the P’s

•	PROPER
•	PRIOR
•	PLANNING
•	PREVENTS
•	PITIFUL
•	POOR
•	PERFORMANCE