Re: Two Ideas - Increasing Advertising and Participation

[Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>]

Kitty is correct that we live in a challenging time and we must have many new ideas to keep the society afloat. I wish these had been presented last week because at present most board members will be in transit to the meeting. I will try to make sure that these thoughts are presented at the board meeting but I have a disadvantage in that I will not be there, but be will be attending via speakerphone. 

These are very good ideas and it will take these and many more to put our society on firm ground. The board has over the last 4 years acted to create changes to revitalize the society. Unfortunately many of these have yet to be seen because saying something and getting it accomplished are two different problems. I can give you two jobs that I need someone to do right now. 

First I need someone who is familiar with Facebook. Preferably they would be under 45 years old and familiar with and active in the Iris society. They would become the AIS presence on facebook and I would consult with them and they with me about AIS facebook pages. For lack of a better title I will call this position at present the Facebook manager.

Second We need an AIS reporter who could craft press releases. Hopefully these wil go onto a Press only portion of our website. If the person is already a Garden Writer it would be helpful. But we will work together to create information that could inspire articles in local newspapers to national journals to blogs.

Kitty's suggestion for more advertising is good but it takes a lot to attract advertisers. The Daylily society reformatted their journal and in doing so was able to attract and increase their advertising dollars by more that a dollar per membership. I express it that way because advertisers pay by the number of hits they are getting. With a new journal size we should be able to pay for at least a quarter to a third of one issue over what we get now. If we do nothing and take a conservative approach we would just drop an issue or two of the bulletin a rather unacceptable approach.

We have been working for three years on a new design for the AIS website but only the board has viewed some of the progress. It would be very possible with the new look to include some advertising.

There will be a great deal discussed at the upcoming meeting. The board is also contemplating having phone meetings throughout the year because we must move forward at a faster pace. Please feel free to send your ideas to AISdiscuss.


----- Original Message -----
From: "K. Loberg" <iris.loberg@comcast.net>
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:08:47 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [AISdiscuss] Two Ideas - Increasing Advertising and Participation

I regret I can't be at the Fall Board meeting.   I thought I'd present a
couple of my thoughts here instead.



When one looks at the Fall Treasurer's report and sees 2 years of losses in
A.I.S. (17,026.19 and 20,658.50) it gives everyone cause for concern.   In
times of positive membership and economic growth for this organization, good
outcomes are often easier to plan, but when the reverse happens, it can be a
challenging time.  We are in challenging times.



When membership numbers are in a long term decline, and when income isn't
keeping up with expenses.perhaps it's time to recharge efforts in a couple of
areas.     I have two recommendations for everyone to consider:



#1)   Seek new and better advertising revenue. Consider selling Ads on the
A.I.S. Website.



  As I see it, there are only 3 types of revenues that are the backbone of
AIS:   Membership dues, Advertising, and Fundraisers.    With memberships on
the decline, increasing membership revenue can only occur with getting more
new members, or increasing the dues, which I don't think would be popular.
New or more profitable fundraisers is one possibility.   However, I think the
greatest potential exists with seeking new advertising dollars.   What about
adding Advertising to the AIS Website?   Advertising through the internet has
been GROWING  this decade, and I think a major revenue potential is being
overlooked if advertising is not considered for the AIS Website.  It doesn't
have to be blatant and overwhelming, it could be designed to be tactful less
obtrusive.



   There was some earlier discussion about hiring an Executive Director.  I
think the discussion was a way for people to express a need to 'do something'.
Perhaps this 'do something' thought would best be oriented towards getting
expert advise on how to increase Advertising Dollars.  Does AIS have
individuals who could work together to create plans to increase Advertising
Dollars in many areas, or should AIS look to Advertising Consultants for new
answers or new ways to get advertising dollars?   I think potential is there.
are we tapping into all the advertising potential that may be there?



#2)   Get more participation from Affiliates and Regional Officers and
Committees through AISDiscuss.



This AISDiscuss is an excellent forum for networking and is perhaps the best
way for ideas to be encouraged and presented, which could lead to greater
things happening.   Getting even more people involved and working together may
be one way to try to head off the AIS membership decline.  When people are
involved in the problems and challenges, people get involved in creating the
solutions as well.   I am suggesting that a representative from every
Affiliate be invited to participate here on AISDiscuss, and additional
representatives from every region (officers and key committees, like bulletin
editors) be invited to participate.  Too often news getting to regions and
affiliates is going by slow boat, or no boat at all.  Let's get more involved,
so that we have more opportunity for networking and idea generation!



Thank you for your consideration of these two suggestions.

Kitty Loberg

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