Minutes 3/23/01
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General Services Committee Meeting
Charlotte, NC   23 March 2001
Approved Minutes

Membership Department Report - Nel Roberts
Individual membership renewals year-to-date are up by 2,343 (17%) over 2000, and up by 288 over 1999. Organizational memberships are down, except for RSAs which are up by 12%. President's Club memberships are ahead of last year by 289%. CSA is working closely with the Membership Director and the General Services Committee to improve Organization Membership renewal rates.

Membership renewal solicitation letters have been rewritten and response rates have improved from a range in 2000 of 19.6-39.6% to a 2001 range of 39.3-48.1%.

The new dues restructuring has been phased in and since 3/1/01 we have been accepting renewals for individuals only at the new levels of $50/year, $90/2 years and $120/3 years. The transition occurred smoothly and we are seeing an increasing number of multi-year renewals which should reduce renewal costs in future years.

Glenn McCarthy and Ken Signorello worked hard to improve all membership pages on the website.

A new contract will be signed shortly which will enable us to once again offer the $20 West Marine coupon to new and renewing members.

General Discussion
The committee and staff are exploring other ideas to increase memberships.

NGB Membership Requirement
We discussed the new ISAF requirement that all racing sailors belong either to their NGB or to a member organization. There was disagreement amongst the committee as to the advisability of exploiting the requirement at this time. The committee welcomes input from US SAILING's committees, councils and membership on the best way to approach this issue.

Organizational Dues - Don Kern
Reported given on his work with CSA and staff on streamlining the dues structure for organizational memberships. CSA's recommendation is as follows:

  Regular Sustaining Supporting Benefactor Patron
RSA $200 $300 $400 $500 $1,000
LSO (RSA member) $125 $300 $400 $500 $1,000
LSO (Non-RSA member) $200 $300 $400 $500 $1,000
LSO* Youth Program & Small Club (RSA member) $75* $300 $400 $500 $1,000
*THis membership category includes Youth oriented programs organizations, scholastic, collegiate teams, yacht club junior programs or small RSA member club w/ <50 members.  The LSO's RSA will certify an LSO as qualifying for this dues level.
LSO = Local Sailing Organization
RSA = Regional Sailing Association

The committee welcomes input on this suggested structure from other committees and councils.

Website Report - Nel Roberts/Glenn McCarthy

Action Items for the Board
None.

Respectfully submitted,
Don Durant
Chairman

ATTENDANCE

General Services Committee Members Guests
Don Durant
Bill Doelger
Ruth Creighton
Don Kern
Glenn McCarthy
Talbot Wilson
Gene McCarthy
Peter Durant
Terry Harper
Tim Rossi
Debbie Souza
Charles Chilcott
Tom Allen
John Burnham
Darline Hobock
Don McCammon
John D. Ross
Glenn Schmidt
Walter Chamberlain