NSMC eNews - 02/18/2009 (Plain Text Version)

Tom Stephani, MIRM, Master CSP, CGB, GMB
NSMC Chair

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In this issue:
The New Stimulus Package Signed Into Law
Builders Launch Tax Credit Web Site
NAHB Applauds ANSI Approval of National Green Building Standard™
IBS NSMC/IRM Committee Minutes Now Available Online
Nation’s Home Builders Elect Leadership for 2009
IBS Recap -- IRM Breakfast and The Nationals
New Trustees Announced at IBS
Congratulations to New IRM Designees!
Can't Find the IRM Directory?
Missed the SMC Workshop? Find Out How to Inspire Volunteers and Members
2009 SMC Directory Now Available Online
Continuing Education Opportunities: Look No Further than Your Local SMC
IRM Course Schedule for February, March and April
SMI Magazine Sneak Peek: March/April Issue
New Content on the Channel: Builder-Broker Relations, Market Research, Technology and Ask a MIRM
You Have Two Days Left to Become a Speaker at the 2010 IBS – Deadline February 20!
New Builder Business Guides Released at IBS – Free for Members
Register fo the Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Awards Gala
Member Advantage Discounts: FedEx, GM & Wyndham Hotels

Missed the SMC Workshop? Find Out How to Inspire Volunteers and Members

Representatives from 17 Sales and Marketing Councils from 13 states learned tips on how to motivate volunteers and shared ideas to inspire members during the recent SMC workshop, held via conference call on February 12^th.

These quarterly SMC workshop conference calls bring great information from both the speaker and the exchange of ideas among the participants. The next call will be Thursday, March 5 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The topic is “Using National Benefits on the Local Level”. Contact aladewig@nahb.com to RSVP.

In last week's call, Todd Chester of NAHB's Affiliate Services moderated an interactive presentation called "Inspiring Volunteers to Act," which provided insight into recruiting and retaining your SMC's members by keeping them engaged. The presentation handout is available online, and highlights from the discussion are outlined below.

Times are changing (demographics, politics, economy, etc.), and your SMC needs to change with them. Identify ways that your SMC or association can help bring people together to attract new people to the association, given these changes within the community.
The four key elements of a simple recruitment message include:
- Listing the benefits to the recruit
- Giving the recruit an idea of the impact of their involvement
- Highlighting the association's successes and activities
- Providing an idea of the time commitment
Keep in mind the ATI Principle:
- ASK: Simply asking someone to join or to volunteer can go a long way.
- THANK: Be specific about why you are thanking members (i.e. 'Thank you so much for coordinating the volunteers today.')
- INFORM: Let members know what difference they make in the association.
  - A great way to inform is by starting with the phrase, "As a result of your time, we were able to ..."
Keep members engaged with ATI

Communicatewhat is going on within the association. Be honest about the strengths and shortfalls of your association. People will join if they know where you are going.
Sharemember advantages constantly. Create a member value statement which lists all local and national benefits.
Share the benefits of attending education seminars and designations. Make sure these programs are relevant.
Identifyopportunities to increase business. Find new members and volunteers by positioning the association as a leader in the community about home building issues.
Informmembers of the difference the association is making. Send members to the association Web site.

Rewards motivate your recruiters.
- Tangible rewards: take them out for drinks or buy them flowers (tailor it to the person).
- Intangible rewards: put their names on the Web site or in the newsletter. Handwritten notes are also effective.
- W.I.I.F.M. - What's In It For Me: make recruiters aware of the business relationships they are benefitting from as a result of their successful recruiting.
Keep members involved. Some reasons people join HBAs to support the industry, for networking opportunities or for new business contacts. Go through a "what and why" chart for each new program to identify how it is helping your members and the association.
- Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper; write "What" on the left and "Why" on the right.
- List the program or service in the "What" column and list the benefits of this program in the "Why" column. You may want to subdivide "Why" into community benefits and member benefits.
- This chart can keep your programs and services on track and in tune with what is best for the association and its members.
Figure out what benefits your members want with surveys. This can help identify programs that are and are not working, benefits members want that are not offered, as well as where the association's strengths are.
- Using a light evaluation (3-5 questions) after educational programs can help to tweak the session or to determine if it is worth doing again later.
- A full member survey helps associations to keep benefits and programs relevant.

For more information on the SMC Workshops, contact Anne Ladewig at 800-368-5242 x8066.