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Entries tagged: Membership Development

Recently, one of our member organizations told us they didn’t just want to match the more than 12,000 members of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition — they wanted to exceed it. What better way to do that than send their membership coordinator to learn tactics and methods from Kate McCarthy, the well-known and respected Membership Director of SF Bicycle Coalition, and Ellis Robinson, a leading guru in the membership development field.

Thirty-eight bicycle and pedestrian advocates — representing three countries, 24 states and provinces, 33 cities, and 30 Alliance member organizations — attended the second Alliance Membership Development Training, July 20-22. Hosted with special support from the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, the training offered two-and-a-half days of instruction, sharing of best practices, small group break-outs, and, of course, outside-the-training networking time for Alliance leaders to connect with each other and build those long-lasting and supportive peer relationships.

It also set out an ambitious goal for the bike-ped movement: The Alliance challenged the attendees to double their organization’s membership within three years. With the skills they learned, they’re ready and willing to take on that mission.

“I appreciated this training so much,” Elizabeth Stampe of Walk San Francisco said. “I can’t wait to implement the terrific ideas I got from my colleagues and the trainers to double our membership!”

Sue Prant from Community Cycles in Boulder, CO, echoed that sentiment: “This training gave us tools to help us refine our membership program, as well as giving us tips and ideas for new activities to engage and recruit new members.”

Tom Rousculp, from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in Portland, OR, added: “The Alliance training has given me the skills and tools to take our membership program to the next level in a thoughtful and professional way.”

In addition to the training itself:

• SRAM hosted a “Welcome to Chicago” social on Wednesday evening
• Participants observe a pit stop — Active Transportation Alliance’s adaptation of the SF Bicycle Coalition’s Service Station
• Attendees gained first-hand knowledge of the city’s infrastructure with a bike ride and walking tour
• The entire group ended Thursday with a gathering in Millennium Park

Whether participants connected with peer groups working in similar geographic or modal scope, or gained insight on the improvements they need to make within their organization to grow their membership, the evaluations indicated that every participant walked away with new and powerful knowledge.

“Connecting with my peers over the better part of three days has not only given me new ideas but also a network to contact with questions and concerns as I grow our membership,” Cait Costello from Palmetto Cycling Coalition in Columbia, SC, said.

Elena Santogade from Transportation Alternatives in NYC described the training as “Inspiring, exhausting, exhilarating — a must-attend.”

Carol Feucht from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition summed it up: “After this training, I have confidence that my job matters. Members and volunteers matter, and I’m glad a training like this exists for bike and ped orgs.”

Find all the resources and training materials in the Alliance Resources Library here.

• The new report from Transportation Alternatives — Vision Zero: How Safer Streets in New York City Can Save Over 100 Lives a Year — cite compelling data on traffic calming measure and, more importantly, challenges the notion that traffic casualties are “accidents” that cannot be controlled, rather than environments that can be altered with specific design elements and policy changes. Absolutely essential ready for all advocates and officials working for safer streets.

• Check out a new Transportation and Health Online Toolkit from the American Public Health Association that builds a bridge between the public health and transportation communities, providing talking points, outreach materials and resources.

• See how your community rates in Transportation for America’s new report — Aging in Place, Stuck without Options — which ranks metro areas by the percentage of seniors with poor access to public transportation, now and in the coming years, and presents other data on aging and transportation.

• Did you know that vehicular travel drops by more than 3 percent and carbon emissions fall nearly 5 percent when cities’ ensure that 70 percent of their streets offer safe pedestrian space? An analysis from the Washington State Department of Transportation shows the myriad climate benefits of active transportation.

• Not to reiterate last week’s resources, but more insight on separated bicycle facilities: A study from Portland State University evaluates some of that city’s recent bicycle innovations, including a cycle track and several buffered bike lanes.

• I know I’ve been trying to get the word out about Alliance events via Facebook and Twitter (Hint, hint: Sign up for our Membership Development Training by tomorrow to save $50!), so I found this booklet — Event Marketing 2.0: How to Boost Attendance Through Social Media — particularly interesting.

• And, speaking of events, if you missed our “Cultivating an Active, Involved Membership” Mutual Aid Call, here’s a link to the tip sheet and call recording.

As always, if you have resources to share, please send them my way: Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. Have a great weekend!

You already know your members are more precious than gold. They are the reason your organization exists. They are the engine that propels you forward. They provide the financial stability, creative energy and political clout that make your organization an effective force for biking and walking in your community. That’s why you simply can’t afford to miss the Alliance’s Membership Development Training, July 20-22 in Chicago.

This specialized and affordable training will draw on the expertise of membership guru Ellis Robinson, who has more than 30 years’ experience serving more than 500 local, state, and national advocacy groups working to improve and increase access for bicyclists and pedestrians. She’ll be joined by Kate McCarthy from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Lee Crandell of the Active Transportation Alliance and other bike-ped leaders from around the country who will add their expertise.

What specifically will you get out of the Membership Development Training? Straight from Ellis Robinson, here are the top five reasons you can’t miss this workshop:

• You’ll have a chance to ask about your membership program—what’s working, what’s not—and get responses designed and tailored to your situation.
• You’ll learn how to keep more of the members you have, by improving your renewal programs.
• You’ll have a chance to review the many means of recruiting new members and develop a new member program that best fits your organization—allowing you to take that next big leap forward.
• You’ll get help honing your message and materials to be most compelling for attracting new members and keeping the ones you have.
• You’ll meet and learn from dozens of peers working with the same challenges you are—and make friends and connections for the future!

So what are you waiting for? Advocates from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Transportation Alternatives, Active Transportation Alliance, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and others have already signed up. Don’t miss out! Register today!

If you joined us at the first training, this isn’t simply a repeat of 2009. The curriculum is different, drawing on plenty of new ideas and innovations to brush up and build on your current knowledge. (Click here for a draft agenda.) This training is for organizations of all sizes, at all stages: Whether you’re looking to lay the foundation for your first membership plan, enhance your current plan or learn tactics to better engage the members you already have, this workshop will address your specific needs.

Join us July 20-22 in Chicago, IL, for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn best practices and network with your peers on this vital topic. Sign up by June 18 to take advantage of early registration rates and discounted hotel reservations.

Click here to register today!

One of the most powerful tools to boost biking and walking in your community is a large, active membership. The 2011 Alliance Membership Development Training will give you the proven tools and innovative best practices to engage more people in your important work. Is your organization looking to lay a strong foundation for its membership plan? Does your group already have a membership program, but want to take it to the next level? Attend this affordable, three-day training geared specifically for bike-ped advocates and learn from top experts in the field.

Registration is now open!

The training will focus specifically on best practices in membership development and retention, provide opportunities for group discussions and sharing of success stories with peers, and offer a limited number of one-on-one consultations with trainer and membership guru Ellis Robison, Kate McCarthy, Membership and Volunteer Director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and other Alliance leaders with expertise in this field. This event also includes social activities Wednesday and Thursday evening, providing plenty of chances for peer-to-peer networking.

Click here for a draft agenda. Click here for all the details and to register.