Report of the MCAA Membership Committee
Words: Dick DentingerThe Membership Committee is pleased to report that despite the 20% increase in dues, our continued efforts to increase membership and retain our current members have produced another year of great results. We have tried new tactics and introduced new benefits directed toward the recruitment of new contractors and suppliers, and the communication with our current members. With the launch of the Premier Suppliers Program and publication of the 2006 Membership Directory, the Membership Committee has given industry players a reason to sit up and take notice of the MCAA. Still, there are many more contractors and suppliers that should be members of the MCAA, and we are committed to finding ways to bring them into the Association.
Current Membership Renewals
We are currently at a member renewal rate of 91% of dues billed, and have actually exceeded our budget for renewals.
In addition to the multiple invoices sent to those members pending since May 2005, the efforts that we have put forth so far have been a direct mailing from MCAA Treasurer Mackie Bounds, a letter included with their Membership Directory, restrictions from receiving member pricing for publications and events including Masonry Showcase, restrictions from accessing "members only" information online, and calls and letters from MCAA Officers and Regional Vice Presidents. We are confident that we will increase the renewal amount further through our end-of-year push to renew members. Melissa and Joni will be contacting each pending member directly to encourage them to pay their invoices.
New Member Efforts
A total of 52 new members have joined MCAA this fiscal year.
Our recruitment efforts have included a special issue of Masonry magazine in November with a membership-focused letter from Alan Griffin, a membership application, new membership advertisement and a tipped-on cover notifying recipients if they were not members; we have enlisted our Regional VPs and Board members to make calls and contact leads in their areas; Mike Adelizzi has made member presentations throughout the country; and numerous letters, brochures, and phone calls have been addressed to leads such as: former MCAA members, contractors representing over $5 million in annual masonry sales according to Dunn and Bradstreet, Masonry Construction magazine's top contractors and Masonry magazine subscribers who are non-members.. These mailings have included sharing our Long Range Strategic Plan as well as member benefits.
Our committee chairman has sent personal letters to each of the new members asking them to attend the Masonry Showcase, and 15 have joined us this year here in Las Vegas. These new members will also be wearing "new member" ribbons, so please introduce yourself and welcome them to the Association.
Membership Directory
The newest edition of the MCAA Membership Directory since 2002 was published and distributed to all MCAA members in October. This invaluable tool for networking within the Association has been very well received by our members. It featured two new inclusions: the new MCAA Resource Guide and the introduction of the Premier Suppliers Program.
Advertisers certainly realized the value in this Directory, because a total of $12,500 in ad space was purchased. The total revenue from ads sold covered the entire cost of design, printing, production, and shipping of the 1,000 directories, and exceeded our ad revenue budget by $8,500.
Premier Suppliers Program
This new initiative was launched in fall 2005 to reward the suppliers in the industry who support MCAA's efforts, and will provide an extra incentive for them to become members, advertise, sponsor and exhibit. So far, it has been a successful sales tool, and well received by both contractors and suppliers.
Our efforts to date have included a Masonry Messenger email/ fax with supplier contact info in December and March; ‘Star Status' denoted in MCAA Directory, Onsite Guide, and Buyers Guide; a four-color, full-page ad with company names and contact info in Masonry in November and the Masonry Showcase Onsite Guide; and a complimentary masoncontractors.org website banner ad, of which Fraco and Mortar Net have accepted. In the coming months, we will be producing a catalog-sized Premier Suppliers Directory in April to be distributed to all MCAA members.
As the culmination of the Premier Suppliers Program each year, a Supplier of the Year winner will be announced at the Annual Meeting. The winner is the 4 star suppliers who contributed the most financially to the MCAA during the last calendar year. The top three companies (Fraco, Non-Stop Scaffolding, and Quikrete) were invited to attend the Annual Meeting for this presentation. The winner will receive a trophy and a sign for the company's booth at Masonry Showcase highlighting the status.
Chicago Member Visits
Throughout the fall of 2005, Mike and Melissa arranged personal visits with 20 members from the Chicagoland chapter. In these meetings, they and the member discussed the long-range strategic plan, the association's current initiatives, and any other topics important to the members. This effort has helped establish better rapport with local members, and prompted an invitation for Mike to address the chapter in February. These visits will continue again after the Masonry Showcase.