2008
Linda Rumney
National Membership Advisor
The purpose of this booklet is to answer many of the questions that we are often asked about League membership and to show you just how simple and fun working on membership can be!
As with any new adventure we need to start at the beginning, with the basics.
Who?
What?
When?
And….WHY?
Who is eligible to become a League member?
· Any Postmaster, OIC, PMR, EAS or employee that pays dues and shows an interest in the League. We also include Retirees, Auxiliary and B.R.A.T.S. We are proud to be an organization that includes the entire family.
What is the League all about?
· Since 1887 the National League of Postmasters has distinguished itself as the premiere, professional organization for Postmasters. Today, it is still representing the interests of Postmasters, their families and their employer in a manner that brings credit to itself and all those who proudly proclaim membership.
When does an employee become eligible to join?
· The minute that employee is hired in any of the above named positions. An employee should not wait until they feel they have a need to join. The need is always there. The League fulfills a great many of our needs as postal employees.
Why should I join the League?
· This question has so many answers that it would take much more than the pages of this booklet to answer. Just take the time to ask any loyal League member just why they are a member and you will receive a myriad of answers, each of them worthwhile.
Adverse Action Legal Services - Provides free access to legal representation in cases of removal,
suspensions and demotions. Available
to League members after six months of continuous membership.
Six-month eligibility period waived for new Postmasters who join the
League within 30 days of appointment.
Security Legal Services – Active and retired Postmasters may retain the services of experienced professional attorneys. Free counseling and representation on a variety of legal matters, plus fixed rates on such services as Will preparation, General Power of Attorney and Bill of Sale.
Improved Managers Process (IMP)
– Provides Postmasters and Managers with support and addiction issues for
themselves and/or members of their families, as well as in the workplace.
Atlanta Postal Credit Union
– Specializing in insured savings, checking accounts, IRA’s, plus auto,
boat, mortgage and home improvement loans – exclusively for employees and
retired employees of the Postal Service.
RLP Scholarships
– Applicant must be the child or grandchild of an active or retired
Postmaster, who is a member of the National League of Postmasters.
Plus:
·
A wide
range of health insurance plans available to uninsured or underinsured League
members and their families.
·
Long term
care insurance
·
League
Dental program
·
Bank of
America WorldPoints Platinum Plus Mastercard Credit Card
·
GEICO
Preferred Insurance
·
Life Line
Screening
·
Pet
Insurance
For information on these and other League benefits you may go to
But
most importantly, as a League member you experience a sense of family and the
peace of mind in knowing that you always have someone to turn to should a
problem arise in your career or in your personal life.
This section will deal with the basics of League
recruitment and will, hopefully give you all the information that you will need
to successfully recruit and retain League members.
The League currently has two ongoing offers for a
free year of League membership.
A free year of League membership may be given to any newly
appointed Postmaster who is promoted from a non-Postmaster position.
There are a couple of stipulations with this free offer.
The free year should be given within the first 30 days of that
Postmasters appointment. The 1187
must signify that the Postmaster is entitled to a free year.
This can be done by simply writing “Free Year” at the top of the
1187.
Along with the free year of membership ANY Postmaster
that joins the League will also be given a FREE brass and wooden desk plaque
that is engraved with their name and title.
This is an excellent recruiting tool.
The second initiative that is currently being offered
applies to Postmaster Reliefs and Officers in Charge.
A free year of League membership may be given to any
PMR or Non-Postmaster OIC. Please
keep in mind that it is very important to put as much effort into signing these
members as you put into signing Postmaster members.
Why? Simply because most of
our new Postmasters will come from these two groups of employees.
Most Postmasters have served as an OIC sometime in their career and many
of them have also been employed as a PMR.
Each
new PMR member will receive a CD from the national office after
the
1187 is received which will contain training and valuable information
which is pertinent to their position as PMR.
After
the free year of League membership has ended the dues for PMRs
and
OICs will be a low $6.50 per month and will be deducted from their paycheck.
The
recruitment incentives for 2008 are as follows:
·
For a cumulative total of five Postmaster members signed, the
recruiter will receive half price registration for either the Forum or National
Convention.
·
For a cumulative total of ten Postmaster members signed, the
recruiter will receive either a full registration for either the Forum or
National Convention.
·
For each additional ten Postmaster members signed, the recruiter
will receive an additional free registration to either Forum or National
Convention. These registrations are
transferable.
In addition, recruiters will continue to receive membership pins at each level of recruitment.
The
following are the pin levels.
1
- 4 members
Gold Eagle Pin
5
– 9 members
Gold Eagle Topaz
10
– 14 members
Gold Eagle Ruby
15
– 19 members
Gold Eagle Sapphire
20
– 24 members
Gold Eagle Emerald
25
– 49 members
Silver Eagle Diamond
50
– 74 members
Gold Eagle Diamond
75
– 99 members
Platinum Eagle Diamond
Awards
will also be given at Forum for the top recruiters in each area.
The M.B. Morrison jacket will be given at Forum to any recruiter who has
signed 100 members. The recruited
members must be Postmasters, PMRs, OICs or EAS employees.
All
incentives for signing the PMR, OIC and EAS members are given other than the
free registrations to National Convention and Forum. These registrations are reserved for signing Postmaster
members only.
In
addition, the top recruiter in the nation will receive the prestigious Eagle
Award at the national convention.
Where do I Begin?
The most important thing to think about before you begin to recruit new members are the reasons that the potential member should join the League. The benefits of the League are listed at the beginning of this booklet. But even though these are important reasons, they may not be the MOST important. Try a little experiment of your own. Ask any longstanding League member why they belong to the League. The reasons may surprise you.
Our National Membership Chairman sends lists of all new Postmasters each month via email. These lists will indicate if the Postmaster is eligible for the free year. This is an extremely important membership tool. If you do not receive these lists and are interested in working on League membership please let the National Membership Chairman or Advisor know so that you may be added to the email list.
Recruitment methods – There are several different ways that can be used to recruit new members. You may go on a membership drive, use phone and fax recruiting or send letters to potential new members.
If you choose to go on a membership drive you should plan ahead and divide up into teams of two, preferably a male and a female. Your route should be planned out ahead of time and you should practice what you plan to say to those you are visiting. Take a small League gift with you to leave with the Postmaster or OIC. You may want to have a larger gift with you as well for those that sign up that day.
Phone calls and faxes have proven to be excellent ways to recruit new members. The most effective way to recruit these members is to use the list of new Postmasters that is sent out each month. Write out the basics of what you plan to say during your phone call and the answers to questions that you may be asked.
Another method that has been very effective is recruitment by letters. Always include a postage paid envelope and an 1187. Sample letters are available from your National Membership Committee. Personalize these letters whenever possible by addressing the person by name. If you are planning a letter writing campaign for PMRs, you should try and mail the letters so that they will arrive in the office on a Saturday.
Retention
The importance of retention cannot be stressed enough. You have worked very hard to recruit these members so your retention plan should be just as important.
Make sure that your state has an active Membership Chairman as well as a Membership Committee. A Retention Chairman should be appointed from that committee.
Plan activities in your state that will be of interest to your members. Three digit meetings are very important to share information and ideas with your members. The National Effective Service committee has put together an excellent tool, which can be very helpful to you in planning these meetings. Contact any member of this committee to obtain this information.
An interesting and informative state convention is something that most League members look forward to. Find out what the hot topics are in your district and plan your speakers accordingly. Ensure that there are fun activities for the League members and their families to take part in at your conventions. It is also a good idea to plan other activities throughout the year. What about a Christmas party or a spring picnic?
An area that is often over looked is the Delinquent list that is on the national website, www.postmasters.org. You must have a login and a password to view this list. Every State President and State Membership Chairman should have access to the list. Your State Membership Chairman or someone on that committee should check this list monthly. It is important to check this list, as this is the place where every dropped member will show up. Often their membership was canceled in error. Retirees will also show up on the list and can be recruited by having them fill out an 1187R. This form can be found at www.postmasters.org.
Your state newsletter should reflect the fact that
the League is “The Education Organization”.
A state website is also a great tool as is a state broadcast email in
which news can be relayed to your members quickly. Gather a list of email addresses at your state conventions.
A free email account can be set up at yahoo.com or other free sites.
Always remember to keep the League visible to your members.
Updated: 02/12/2009 08:31:13 PM