USCF TO PROMOTE 3-YEAR MEMBERSHIPS
At the USCF Executive Board meeting yesterday, the Board approved a motion to reward affiliates who submit 3-year adult memberships with a $10 merchandise credit certificate for each membership.
The Affiliate and Membership Growth Committees had moved the institution of a $3 commission on each one year adult membership at the Delegates meeting in August. The commission on such memberships was $5 before being eliminated effective this January due to the federation's worsening financial situation. However, since the August meetings, financial reports have shown that USCF lost $160,000 between June and September, so the Board believed it too risky to bring back any commission on one year memberships at this time.
Three-year memberships are priced at $109. Prior to 2001, the commission on them was $7. I presented the idea of a $7 or $10 commission on these memberships to the Board, which selected a $10 credit slip instead because those using the credit are likely to order other merchandise at the same time. In support of this idea, I offered the following arguments:
1. It cannot cost much compared to the present, as very
few 3-year memberships are currently received.
2. If the number of 3-year memberships shows a significant increase as a
result, this will help USCF's cash flow problems.
3. Due to USCF's poor renewal rate, it is likely that many members who
renew for 3 years would not have done so if they had to pay one year at a time.
3-year renewals will thus promote membership totals.
4. Renewal notices will not have to be sent each year to the 3-year
members.
5. Affiliates will once again enjoy an important symbolic benefit. True,
its value will be limited by the fact that most players join for just a year,
but if USCF cannot afford even a $1 commission on a yearly membership, this is
better than nothing. If properly promoted by USCF, it will give some
affiliates the idea of pushing the 3-year memberships.
6. Affiliates should be encouraged to award 3-year memberships as prizes.
This could be part of what might be called a "USCF Booster"
program. Players and organizers could be encouraged to become "USCF
Boosters" at a time of fiscal crisis by joining for 3 years or awarding 3
year memberships. The 3-year memberships could be called "USCF
Booster" memberships.
7. Tournaments awarding "USCF Booster memberships" as prizes
could get a special incentive, such as one free TLA line for each Booster
membership advertised.
8. Tournaments awarding Booster memberships could also have a special TLA
symbol indicating that they are helping to promote chess and/or keep USCF
financially sound.
9. Special tournaments could be suggested, with special rewards. For
example, a Quad that charges about $30 per player and awards a Booster
membership to the winner of each section is something that just about any
affiliate can run, and may warrant no rating fee plus a free TLA of up to 4
lines. If such a quad draws just 16 players, USCF will receive $436, plus
possible other memberships! If many affiliates can be encouraged to hold
"USCF Booster Quads," a large amount of income will result.
10. "USCF Booster Swiss." Another special tournament that would
warrant special incentives is a 4-round Swiss in which a 4-0 score wins a 3-year
membership, 3.5 points 2 years, and 3 points 1 year. With a $20 entry fee,
this structure is likely to award most fees as membership prizes, but is
unlikely to pay out more than it takes in, unless the turnout is very poor.
I held a Rated Beginners Open with this format in Poughkeepsie a month ago
and it drew 10 players (despite Chess Life misprinting the $20 entry fee as
"$200" and failing to correct this error after I pointed it out). The
result was that 80% of the entry fees collected went to USCF for memberships.
Note that items 6 through 10 have not yet been
approved. This program is now being considered by the Membership Growth
Committee, and the remaining details will hopefully be announced
soon.