The downturn in the economy has affected us all and has hit all nonprofit associations hard. Discretionary dollars are scarce and have to be weighed very carefully. PCOC has seen this over the last few years in terms of a reduction in membership and a resulting loss of revenue. This, despite hundreds of phone calls to delinquent and nonmembers, exhibiting our booth as often as possible, providing free district dinners to first time nonmembers and running membership contests—to name but a few of the actions we have taken.
At the same time, our nondues revenue, which I emphasized when I began at PCOC, has also been affected by economic conditions. In addition, many of our sponsors have become more prudent with their contributions.
I don't mean to preach doom and gloom. In fact PCOC is one of the soundest financial nonprofit associations in the state. Also, I believe there are signs around California that the economy is starting to rebound and this should give us cause for cautious optimism as we move forward.
I also think that never has there been a time in the history of PCOC that the association needs to be strong. Anti-business forces have the ear of the Legislature and the governor in the Capitol: the unions, the trial lawyers and the radical environmental groups. They are all calling in chits after their support in the election and they all have an agenda ... the cumulative effect of which will be to shut down business in the state.
This is the year for an aggressive education campaign with elected officials (more on that in a later issue as we approach our Leg Day) On the membership front, it is critical that we all step up our game. On the district level, I challenge each and every one of you to invite one of your colleagues who is not a member of PCOC to come to a meeting. In fact, if you send us the names of the nonmembers who attended we will take care of the rest: calling them and sending them materials on why they simply cannot afford NOT to be a member.
This year's membership contest (see below) challenges us in an exciting way to focus on increasing the membership of PCOC. It is simply not enough these days for us to sit back and say "that is what a membership director is for." Certainly, we can initiate programs, make calls and do all kinds of follow up from the state office that you do not have the time to do. All of this ongoing activity is essential.
Do you have any ideas on how we can try to increase membership (e.g., bringing back those who have been members in the past)? Send any and all ideas either to Mike McKenzie, our Membership Committee chair, mmckenzie@orkin.com, or Bill Gaither, PCOC director of membership and technical services, billgaither@pcoc.org.
I believe that members of our industry who are not members of PCOC are taking advantage of the voice that PCOC provides to regulators and elected officials, to name but a few. The work that YOUR association does every day, protects the pest control industry in California and indeed makes it stronger through the programs that we offer.
Let's work together to build our membership in the months ahead! Go for it!