My View

By Ed Verbeke, USAC Executive Director

Over the last several months we have been analyzing our membership numbers and the more we analyze, the more questions come up that have to be answered. For instance, we have discovered that each year we lose from 10% to 12% of our membership. We have discovered that most of our membership loss occurs within the first five years the person is a Serran.

The question then, is why do we lose these members? To answer this question, we sent a questionnaire to these newly inactive Serrans, asking why have they have become inactive. These data are coming in now and within the next several months we should have the beginnings of an answer. One of the problems that is involved is trying to be sure that you don’t get the answer you are seeking, but rather, the answer that comes from the data.

For me, this is a problem. I am personally convinced that if all clubs used the programs developed by the USA Council Programs Committee, the members would stay to experience and enjoy these programs. These members would be recruiting other people to join Serra to experience these programs.

I fully realize that many clubs have established a pattern of programs and a change could be a major concern. Those clubs that live in a major urban area shouldn’t have a major problem getting speakers. But the clubs in smaller population areas may have a problem.

The programs developed by the Program Committee don’t require a speaker. Any member that has participated in a Lenten group discussion program can be the leader, or you could ask the Director of Religious Education of one of the parishes to be the leader until the club members feel comfortable in leading the programs themselves.

These programs cover a multitude of subjects. You can download these programs at no cost and have them reproduced for each club member. In this way you can avoid the expense of a speaker. If you like these programs but can’t convince your club to use them, then use them yourself for your own personal faith development. If you don’t have internet capability then go to your local library and ask them to download them for you.

Remember the TV ad for Life cereal that played for a long, long time? Be like Mikey. Try them. You’ll like them!

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