Mad Dog's "AFSA Membership For Dummies 101"
AFSA Brothers & Sisters of Division 89, HOOAH!
How is your Chapter membership progressing? Are you attacking your lapsed members? Are you looking hard at your membership rosters? Striking a balance between work, home and AFSA is not always easy but it is what we have chosen to do. As members of Division 89, we need to take the lead and press on to make us as strong as possible! I would like to offer a few tips that have proven successful with informing, recruiting and retaining.
Airmen: Never talk to an Airmen (E-4 or below) about retirement. He or she does not care (for the most part) as retirement is for “old folks” in their minds. Instead get smart on your legislation. Discuss the changing focus of the AF and the “outside the wire mentality”. With many Airmen performing nontraditional roles in combat operations, they need to know how legislation affects them (i.e. H.R 89 “Combat-Related Special Compensation Act, S 22 “Post 9/11 Vets Educational Assistance, etc…). Young people are directly affected by deployments and potentially combat ops…moreover, they are interested in Education opportunities and benefits available to them. Try and tie them together.
Officers: Understandably, the Commissioned folks are NOT our first target. Time after time I have applied my “ABC’s” (Ask, Believe, Challenge) approach to an audience at a recruiting event only to hear; “I am an officer….not a sergeant”. This used to put me off a bit until I relooked at this opportunity. Simply put I now say “Sir/Maam…would you be interested in sponsoring one of your fine young Airmen or NCO’s to a membership in AFSA”? You would be surprised to hear how receptive this can be. Many officers think this is a great idea and sign up a “Sharp Airmen” right on the spot. You can do this real easy. Have the officer complete the name/rank and DSN number for the Airman/NCO. Of course, take the payment from the officer. Then, go back to your work center and call that Airman or NCO. Tell him/her that you ran into Lt/Capt So-and-so…..at the BX/Post Office (wherever your drive was) and how he/she spoke highly of their work. Then tell them that he/she was sponsored to a membership into AFSA. At this time you can get the rest of the info for the application such as the address and date of birth. Again, this makes the Airman/NCO feel good that his/her officer thought so highly of them, makes the officer feel good about helping the enlisted corps, and ultimately brings another number in for AFSA!
Civilian Spouses: I am very fortunate that my wife (Karen) backs me 100% when it comes to AFSA. In fact, she is an Auxiliary member (so is my teenage son) and is a full force AFSA supporter! GET YOUR SPOUSES INVOLVED! I know some of you may run into some heartache being away from home on weekends after being gone all week at work.; however, If you include your spouse in your recruiting events….this may help alleviate some of your “pains”. It also opens up another target audience. As your civilian “better half” mans a recruiting booth with you, he/she is inevitably going to see someone they know. “What are you doing here?” They will be asked. If your spouse is versed on what AFSA is about….”BANG” this opens the door to a wider audience!
The ultimate: The ultimate response I get at a info/recruiting booth when I ask “Are you and AFSA Member” is …”Yes I am”. This is good…BUT VERIFY! Make sure you have a current chapter roster on hand to verify this. If he/she is not on the list…hand them a change of chapter card. Do NOT let them say “I will go on-line and do this”…as 99% of the time they will not. A current roster and a Change of Chapter card is two of the most valuable pieces of “ammo” you need in your Membership Toolbox! Chapter leaders you need to do just that….LEAD! Your chapter takes it’s cues from you and you must lead them to success. As a wise man once said…” A leader must lead from the front, even if he is stumbling”. Thus, lead, follow, or get out of the way! Lets work together and embrace the TEAM Concept as “Together, Everyone, Achieves, More”
V/r Matthew R. "Mad Dog" Becker Chapter #984