Membership WAKE-UP call

by James H. DeNike, USA Council President

In the last edition of serraUSA I covered an overall view of the state of our Council. In this issue I will discuss what I believe to be our most challenging issue, which is turning around the net decrease in membership which began last year and continues into this fiscal year. From June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003 our membership count dropped by 207 members, or by 1.6 percent. From June 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2003, the member count dropped by another 89. Furthermore, 22 of our clubs have not recruited a new member in the past three years.

We do bring in new members, but unfortunately we lose a larger number. We have tried exit interview surveys, but they have been unsuccessful in giving a solid quantitative analysis of the reasons for this decrease. I believe they can be summarized qualitatively as follows:

Many of our members are aging, and sadly, that results in death. USAC Executive Director Ed Verbeke has examined recent data that shows we are losing, through death, 200-250 members a year.

We are very grateful for the wonderful work Serrans have accomplished over the years, but aging is inevitable. We have seen uncomfortable signs recently of clubs failing because most members are old and reaching the point where energy lags. We must accept this fact and plan for it through the constant addition of new, younger members.

Recent analyses have indicated that when we recruit new members, an inordinate number leave within five years.

The number of new clubs in formation is declining.

This data is not new, but approximately one third of the dioceses in this country are still without a Serra club.

What can be done to turn this problem around?

I can mention a few things that will not.

One is announcing a membership drive with "atta boy/girl, let’s do it!" and leaving it at that. Membership is grown by careful planning and execution; by visiting parishes and obtaining candidate names for further personal development. I recently heard of two cases where specific plans resulted in membership increases of 30.

Another is limiting your recruitment efforts to your circle of friends and acquaintances. I will be 72 soon. If I only contacted my friends, we would just have more 70- year-olds. Planning should aim for younger members -- but I am not thinking of people in their 30s or even 40s. A prime age is probably 50 to early 60s. By this time, families are raised and retirement may be near. With proper motivation, these people could be excellent candidates.

The problem of disproportionate loss of new members has to be addressed by good orientation, mentoring, and most importantly, giving them assignments that satisfy the motivation to do the vocation work that caused them to join.

Every district should be carefully observing the demographic trends in their area and planning where new clubs should be opened.

The Membership Committee has just announced a Fall membership drive. I hope all will carefully plan and do the work to really make this drive success.

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