I. Secrets to Retention
II. Best Practice – Council Websites
III. Development
IV. Public Relations
V. Membership
VI. Legislative Affairs
VII. Announcements
I. Secrets to Retention
The Navy League Retention Workshop emphasizes that retention begins when a member is recruited. Is a new member made to feel welcome? Do we reach out to this new member and invite them to attend the next council event? Does the council conduct a new member orientation? Does the new member have a host, someone with whom they can openly communicate their needs from the Navy League? Does the council periodically survey members to determine what they expect from the Navy League? These are some of the best practices emphasized in the workshop.
Here’s some insight from other organizations about retention:
• Individual members will remain with an organization when they value the experience. Does your council periodically summarize the activities that support members of the sea services, their families and youth in the community?
• Begging and arm-twisting (for renewal) is a short-term strategy and can lead to resentment. Sell the sizzle – the activities and events that your members value!
• Does your council recognize the volunteers who make events and activities successful? Your council can request one Scroll of Honor and twelve Certificates of Appreciation annually. Use them!
• Do you have fun at your events! Younger members in particular want to belong to organizations that are having fun while delivering their valued services to the community and the sea services.
• Remember that everyone today is overloaded with “opportunites“ to volunteer their time and money. What does your council offer these folks that they can’t get elsewhere? When you have an answer to this question, you are ready to “sell the sizzle”.
If you have any question on this subject or if you would like to schedule the Retention Workshop for your council, contact Bill Waylett at wwaylett@navyleague.org.
II. Best Practice – Council Website
There are 75 councils worldwide with websites across the Navy League today. These councils report reduced costs for communications, improved ability to reach their members on short notice, and better information about the local Navy League available to their communities. If your council doesn’t have a website, how do you get one? Fortunately, Navy League has had a National Committee, the Information Technology Committee for Council Initiatives, working to bring low-cost web services to councils that want a website. For information on how this initiative can assist your council, go to www.navyleague-itc.us, or contact Jim Semerad, Committee Chair, at jimsemerad@cs.com.
II. Development
Navy League National has just launched the lead-off Development appeal for 2007. This fundraising appeal features a letter from Vice Admiral (VADM) Joseph Donnell, USN (Ret.), National Vice President for Development and Corporate Affairs. VADM Donnell reminds members that it is only through their support that Navy League is able to accomplish all that we do on behalf of the men and women of the US Sea Services. All members who respond to this appeal by June 15 will receive a set of bonus Navy League return address labels.
Recently, the Navy League Foundation’s Scholarship Committee met and awarded four scholarships to deserving students from Gaithersburg, MD, San Diego, CA, Chinook, WA, and Hurley, WI. Each of these students exhibited outstanding academic and leadership skills as well as demonstrated financial need. Currently, we are contacting each student’s local council to discuss presentation of awards and honors.
NLUS History Book SUMMER SALE!!! Now only $16.95!
Members can now purchase the Navy League History Book at the low bulk rate price of $16.95. This special offer ends June 30th. The regular member price for each book is $19.95 and the retail price is $24.95. The bulk (10 or more) order price will remain at $16.95 each for members and non-members. Sales prices do not include shipping and handling fees. Members should use the new member discount code for the History Book, NLUS07, when ordering through Potomac Books International online at www.navyleague.org, or via telephone at 1-800-775-2518. Bulk orders cannot be placed online; please contact Sam Dorrance at Potomac Books at 1-800-775-2518 or email him at sam@booksintl.com.
Councils are reminded that the History Book should be part of your community outreach efforts, including the gift for guest speakers, a complimentary gift to local VIPs, school libraries, adopted units, service award recipients, etc. It makes a truly impressive gift!
Council Care Package II – coming soon!
Councils will soon be receiving their second “care package.” This package contains handy resource material that councils can add to their libraries. This month’s package will contain copies of the 2007-08 Maritime Policy Statement, Legislative Agenda for 110th Congress, NLUS tri-fold information brochure and the 2006 Naval Sea Cadet Annual Report. It will also contain information flyers on the upcoming annual convention scheduled for Oct 30 - Nov 4 in Palm Desert, Calif., Seapower’s digital edition, the History Book Summer Sale, the Council Honor Wall, the Naval War College Speakers’ Bureau and merchandise available from the Navy League Ship’s Store. Regional and Area Presidents’ packages will have the same contents along with additional information.
Sea-Air-Space Exposition DVDs
A limited number of DVD copies of the recording of the luncheons, seminars and dinner gala are now available. The DVD contents are as follows:
Disk I - Luncheon Sessions
Keynote Speakers SECNAV Winter - Safety Awards
DepSecDef Gordon England
VCJCS Adm. E.P. Giambastiani, USN
Disk II - Banquet Gala – Corporate Awards & Recognition
Disk III - Seminars
Sea Power & America's Security
Rethinking America's Maritime Strategy
Defending the Home Front
Disk IV - Seminars
Future of U.S. Shipbuilding
Acquisition Outlook & Priorities
Each DVD contains menu icons for each listed event. Send your request to Public Relations at publicrelations@navyleague.org. Please specify in the body of your message which DVDs you are requesting.
Mackie Awards
Councils News Postings on NLUS website
We’ve made good strides in posting current council news on our new homepage. Many thanks to those councils which are providing us newsletters, flyers, stories and photos about their council activities. We can still use more, so please continue to send your inputs to publicrelations@navyleague.org. When sending us a copy your newsletter, please send the photos separately and don’t forget to include full captions.
Navy Leaguer's May issue available in an electronic online version.
The Navy Leaguer, beginning with the May issue which you recently received, is now posted online in a new electronic version, similar to Seapower’s online edition (go to http://www.navyleague.org/navy_leaguer/current_leaguer.pdf). This posted electronic version makes it easier to search for stories using a table of contents, includes web links and e-mail addresses, and offers an easy-to-use feature for emailing selected articles to friends and families. This year, the Navy Leaguer will be published three times - January, May and September. We are continuing to research revenue opportunities to allow us increase the frequency of this publication.
V. Membership
Database Changes in Membership
The conversion to the new database is nearing completion as we sort through myriad data migration challenges and work to resolve all outstanding issues with the vendor. We are processing new memberships and renewals and plan to provide the link to the Online Community very soon so that you can once again access up-to-date rosters. Thank you for your patience.
VI. Legislative Affairs
Along with the 2007-08 update of the Statement of Maritime Policy, the Legislative Agenda is now available online at http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs. The agenda is consistent with longer-term strategic positions called for in the policy statement. Also, another BRAVO ZULU (Congratulations – Well Done!) goes out to the Region Vice Presidents who have recently reported increased numbers of Council and Area participants in the ongoing Grassroots Legislative Initiative!
VII. Announcements
1. Looking for Council Board Members?
If your council is seeking new board members, take a look at www.boardnetusa.org. Your council can post board openings, and people looking for boards to join can look for organizations that interest them.
2. Navy League Youth Medal
3. Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization with a mission of remembering the fallen, honoring those who serve, and teaching children the cost of freedom. They conduct wreath laying ceremonies at federal and state veteran cemeteries (see www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for information on this project) and try to include school children in these events. They have invited local council participation in this annual event, which will be on December 15, 2007.
Member Services
service@navyleague.org
