ITS MINNESOTA

1
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
Linda Preisen, Research Administration
Director Center for Transportation
Studies University of Minnesota
November 16, 2008
ITS MINNESOTA
2
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Why Important?

• Strong, active membership is vital to chapters
  success

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
3
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE, RATES, AND PROCESSES
Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
4
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Structure and Rates

• Member organizations, rather than individual
  members

Rate structure

• Governmental/academic/non-profit or not
  -for-profit 125
• (NEW govmt/academic/non-profit
  free first year)
• For-profit (20 or fewer employees-all office
  locations) 125
• For-profit (more than 20 employees)
  250
• National ITS America Member 125

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
5
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
New Member Recruitment

• New members identified by Board of Directors and
  Committees

• Membership Committee contacts potential members

• Member benefits posted on ITS MN website

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
6
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Renewal Process

• Memberships renewed annually

• Annual renewal process via e-mail

• Personal call reminders

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
7
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Membership Benefits

• Outstanding events

• Networking Opportunities

• Quarterly Newsletter

• Professional Capacity Building

• Member Listing

• Speaking Opportunities

• Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities

• Volunteer Opportunities

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
8
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES AND SPECIAL INITIATIVES
Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
9
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Membership Committee

• Recruitment and retention

• Periodic surveys

• Marketing materials

Balance of Public/Private Member Organizations

• Rotation of chapter officers

• Diverse set of organizations represented

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
10
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Visibility of ITS within Minnesota Transportation
Community

• Joint Luncheon Programs with WTS MN and North
  Central Institute of Transportation Engineers
  (NCITE).

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
11
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Outreach to Cities and Counties

• Offered a free one year membership to
  MN cities and counties.

• Local Government grants program to implement ITS
  solutions

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
12
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
MINNESOTA FACTORS
Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
13
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP

• Mn/DOT and Minnesota Guidestar Program

• ITS Institute at the University of Minnesota

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
14
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTERS
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP
Lessons Learned

• Dedicated effort required at chapter level

• Membership benefits are relevant and clearly
  communicated

• Keep member listings visible

Best Practices Membership Recruitment and
Retention
15
ITS AMERICA STATE CHAPTER
STRENGTHENING WORKSHOP