MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

January 20, 2001

National Shooting Complex, San Antonio, Texas

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 AM by Chairman Dene Coqdill. Present were Sam Duncan, Hannah Allen, Gwen Watkins, Bruce Kinkner, President, Bill Harder, Vice President, Mike Hampton, Executive Director, and Don Snyder, Director of Skeet.

Item #1.  President Bruce Kinkner addressed the committee regarding current life members. He emphasized the importance of life members to the Association and asked the committee to formulate a strategy to assess the needs of current life members. Sam Ducnan outlined a plan to give these members Emeritus status. She will draft a letter to send out to life members to determine what NSSA services they would like to continue receiving, i.e. annual registration package, magazine, Ensuing discussion concluded that should they decide to become inactive, they would still retain full voting privileges, and could at any time in the future reactivate full membership. It was also decided that sixty days after the initial letter goes out the life members, a second letter would follow. Sam Duncan also proposed a plan whereby a life member, for an as yet undetermined amount, may become a Patron member, The committee will revisit this issue at future meetings.

Item #2.  How to target new members. This requires a two-pronged effort that involves taking care of the members we do have, but tat the same time, trying to target different areas to recruit new members, Sam Duncan pointed out that we need to run advertisements in magazines other than skeet magazines. She will investigate promotional concepts for other magazines and will follow-up on an advertising possibility with Golf Digest. Hanah Allen submitted two recommendations that would target individuals purchasing new guns and ammunition, She will work with Don Snyder to expand these ideas, Dene Coqdill discusses shoots and leagues he has run at his club to attract new members and to keep existing members coming back. Mike Hampton reminded the committee about the prizes available form NSSA and is was the consensus of those present that clubs may not know enough about the awards program. Sam Duncan proposed that the Membership Committee have a page in Skeet Shooting Review and address such items as awards from NSSA, how to raise money to buy prizes, skeet etiquette, and a number of other potential articles. She also mentioned that a pamphlet on how to read a skeet program and sign up for a shoot would be helpful to new members and existing members, Dene Coqdill will write an article explaining the newly established membership committee, Our goal in SSR is to provide informational articles and solicit ideas from members about what we as an association can do for them. Hannah Allen suggested we explore the possibility of contacting a sports psychologist to write a column for SSR. This recommendation will be forwarded to the Executive Committee.

It was the consensus of the committee tat we focus on retention. Don Snyder outlined two proposals he is working on, an NSSA All-Class Team that will recognize leader in class who shoot national minimums and special recognition for the top 10 high volume shooters.

 The meeting was adjourned at 2:26 PM.