PFSC’s 2007 Fall Convention

Membership Development Committee

Holiday Inn East

Membership Committee Report

PFSC Fall Convention

September 8, 2007

Membership Committee Report

The Membership Committee met on Saturday and we had some very nice discussions on several issues. Three items were discussed at length that we felt needed to be brought to the Delegates and their feedback obtained and/or county or division action taken as needed.

First - Is the name of our organization actually driving regular every day sportsmen and sportswomen away? In many areas of thestate a Sportsmen’s Club is nothing more than a bar or drinking club. At least to the lay person and the general public this would equate our name of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs to a bar/drinking association. In our Mission Statement we state point blank that we provide a statewide, united voice for the concerns of all sportsmen and conservationists. Would our mission not be better served and our united voice heard more universally if the name of this organization was to become the "Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen". The committee would ask that all members and delegates take back this thought and discuss it. Many times this thought has been batted around but never brought to the forefront so we felt it time to GetErDone. This is not something that will change overnight but if a majority is in favor of this by the Spring Convention then we will ask fora vote at that time to further study and investigate changing the name. We would in no way change the current structure of this organization other than have our name reflect positively on those we serve and represent the Sportsmen of Pennsylvania.

Secondly - We would ask that all Counties and Divisions that are currently using a per member assessment for dues PLEASE look into modifying it to a set per county or per club fee structure. As we move ahead this will help the state office know what the dues are for each club and each division in the PFSC without regards to club membership numbers. Face it, half of the numbers of members reported today are most likely not accurate anyway. Where we would like this to lead is a one price dues that will cover all three of the current fees and simplify the invoicing of dues for all our members.

Using Mercer as an example, we will be proposing a graduated dues structure for possible approval. It may be that clubs under 50 members $100, Clubs between 50 and 100 members $200, Clubs over 100 members $300. Out of this the county will then make out the checks for the Division and State dues owed from those clubs. That way it becomes very simply, how many members you have, dues are $X,  no more this part is for that and that part is for this and multiply $Y by the number of members you had last December ETC.

Third - The most controversial of all. We are asking that all credential sheets and dues sheets from the state office be sent to ONLY the County Delegates and NOT the individual clubs. It is the RESPONSIBILITY of the County Delegate to oversee the distribution and collection of dues from ALL the clubs in that county. They must contact and distribute this information out, even to nonmember clubs. Your roles as County Delegate is to contact, stay in touch with and represent ALL the affiliated clubs in your county along with trying to bring in new or old clubs. If the current method of dues collection works in your county then by all means continue but it is still the RESPONSIBILITY of the County Delegate to see that it is done and completed prior to the Spring Convention.

If you, as the County Delegate, are unable to do the job for which you were elected then by all means find someone to replace you that can and will fulfill the duties of the office you are currently occupying.

Respectfully Submitted by,

Steven Preston, Acting Chairman

Comments from Executive Director, Melody Zullinger: The current method of collecting club dues is NOT working in many counties. Our county delegates and officers are volunteers, and many do not have the time to worry or deal with the added time involved with collecting and disseminating dues to the state, division, etc. Let us help you by eliminating that responsibility. Let the clubs send dues directly to the state office.

We already send credential sheets to current member clubs each fall, reminding them to renew their memberships thru their counties, but many of our counties don’t even hold meetings from November to February or March.

Starting in early February, the state office would notify the counties, via email which clubs they’ve received payment for, and at that point the county delegate would be responsible for contacting the clubs that have not renewed and remind them that their membership has expired. Each county would be responsible for submitting a county credential sheet to the state office by March 1.

Each county and division should have a set fee for each club. For the Divisions, this amount should not be more than $50/club. $25/club would be more reasonable. The counties should not be allowed to charge the clubs more than the state does. Some counties and divisions wave fees the first year or altogether. That’s great! All the counties and divisions have to do is make sure they notify the state office as to the amount of their dues by November 1^st. The state office will include that info in the mailing that goes to the clubs.

With this method, you’d have to options. The clubs could include the county and division dues with their check to the state; then the state would cut a check back to the county and division. Beginning in March, once a month, the state office would cut a check to the counties and divisions for their share of the dues, and provide another update as to which clubs have paid.

The other option would be for the club to only send PFSC the state dues, and if the counties and divisions provide us with names and addresses, we include where they are to send their county and division check.

Using either method saves our county officers time by not having to deal with trying to keep track of how much money they owe the state, and how much they owe the division. A lot less effort and headache.