[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Ideas for increasing membership - LONG
- From: "Pam Stoesser" <pkstoesser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <MarcatoGSD@xxxxxxx>, <Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 20:49:39 -0500
At the risk of being verbally assailed by certain members of this list
(which is why lots of List members lurk, by the way), I would like to offer
the following in the spirit of encouraging rather than discouraging.
Every club is made up of members. The GSDCA/WDA is just one of thousands of
clubs for people of common interests. Each of them has standing club rules,
by-laws, and policies and procedures. Those are designed to encourage their
membership to participate in the types of activities that the club endorses.
There are: golf clubs, tennis clubs, horse clubs, airplane clubs, daylily
clubs, etc. and many people belong to more than 1 club in their lives. Each
of them has programs only available to members. If that were not so, why
would anyone join?
If you carefully read the various programs available through the GSDCA (AOE,
ROM, Dual Awards, Ch/Performance Pins), you might note that most of the
programs are stated positively, rather than negatively. Special awards are
given to encourage members to show their dogs in all venues, including
conformation, agility, working, obedience, rally, herding, and tempermant
testing. While not perfect (because it is made up of non-perfect people),
the GSDCA/WDA is the only national organization in this country working for
the improvement of the GSD breed as defined byt the GSD Standard.
This List is not the GSDCA. "Sharing the love of the breed" isn't enough.
If all a person does is own a companion animal, they have done much for one
animal and may indeed be a good ambassador in a small area but will be able
to do more for the breed by participating in the GSDCA and their local breed
club.
I believe the GSDCA does listen to the ideas and suggestions of members and
non-members alike. Just because they don't instantly hop up and cheer when
someone makes a suggestion or immediately implement the idea, it doesn't
mean they're not listening. Perhaps there are other issues that the
suggesting person isn't aware of.
If you want to make a difference, join the GSDCA and volunteer. I will
guarantee that you will receive more than you give if you put your heart
into it.
Pam Stoesser
----- Original Message -----
From: <MarcatoGSD@xxxxxxx>
To: <Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 8:00 PM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Ideas for increasing membership
> Concerns over membership seems to arise often, and rather than thinking of
> ways to increase it, people only seem to speak of what non members DON'T
> deserve
> instead of what they do.
> As always, I have thoughts on the matter.
>
> 1. Treat non-members with respect, not disdain.
>
> 2. Listen to their ideas and suggestions BEFORE they become members. It
> increases the likelihood they want to join.
>
> 3. Tell non-members what they will get from joining, and what they will
> get
> for not joining. In otherwords, always tell them what they WILL get
> instead of
> what they WON'T get (unless they ask otherwise).
>
> 4. Treat non-members as equals. It doesn't matter that they don't belong
> to
> the GSDCA, they belong to the GSD breed. That should be enough, that you
> share a love for such a wonderful breed.
>
> 5. Don't incessantly pester people to join. They will join if and when
> they
> want to. Pushing the issue drives prospective members away.
>
> 6. Educate people! Non-members need just as much education as members, if
> not more!
>
> 7. Make people feel welcome, not excluded. We are supposed to have a
> common
> goal in mind. Perpetuating education and love for the German Shepherd
> Dog.
> It doesn't matter if the person is interested in conformation, obedience,
> agility, rally, or just has a family pet. Everybody wants to feel
> welcome.
>
> 8. Again, LISTEN to people. If they don't want to join, listen to their
> reasons WHY, instead of you always asking "Why not?"
>
> 9. Tell non-members what and how they are doing right by the breed,
> instead
> of what they are doing wrong.
>
> 10. Remember that just because somebody isn't a member of the club,
> doesn't
> mean they shouldn't be treated as an equal member of the breed! This
> should be
> about the German Shepherd Dog, not the German Shepherd Dog Club! If we
> lose
> sight of that, we lose sight of our goals in regards to the breed.
>
> The club may not die, but it will continue to shrink and lose members if
> attitudes towards non-members don't change.
>
> - Jackie
>
>
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> POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the
> original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or
> FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the
> original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
>
> ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
> MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
> PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
> FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL
> BE PROSECUTED.
>
> For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues
> ============================================================================
>
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues
============================================================================
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