I haven?t seen Jill?s letter to
affiliates. It is my
understanding now, from Jill?s response, the request in the letter is to ask
clubs to send the typical memorial donations or donations for any cause to AIS
without designating any restriction as to purpose. I?ve been asking my club to do
so for memorial contributions for a couple years now.
And there certainly is merit to
any club or region who can just make a donation to help offset the projected
deficit for 2010. However, I
think there is a way to make memorial donations to AIS generate MORE of a
benefit in the long run than just offsetting a deficit.
AIS needs membership, as
membership has been declining on a steady trend for a decade. The membership chair has projected a
loss for this next year at another 329 members lost. As membership falls, so
does the advertising benefit to commercial gardens or
vendors decline. An
advertiser today reaches only 4,692 households, whereas an advertisement
reached as many as 8,000 households in many years
past.
If clubs are able to contribute
to AIS, perhaps if they sent in those funds to specifically enroll 2
or MORE members (2 times $25=$50). With 169 affiliated clubs, that could
potentially mean 338 additional members, maybe more! To be fair, Clubs could have a
simple drawing for their members who were non-AIS members. If continued for subsequent years,
each year the drawing would be for non-AIS members. This would give an opportunity
to a couple of local club members to see what the AIS bulletin provides to
them? and hopefully, some of them would then want to continue their membership
in years to come on their own. Wouldn't
that be great?
Kitty
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:22
AM
Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] Loberg
Questions on AIS Library exhibits-change subject line to Board Action of AIS
Discuss
Hello All,
If every active affiliate donated $50, it
would more than halve the projected deficit for 2010. That might be a
good starting point for all RVPs and affiliate Presidents to request a
donation from their club.
Cheryl