Calender year vs annual year membership

[Guest]

[Jerry P3150]

I heard through the grape vine that a least two Departments have resolutions to change the VFW annual year (membership expires Dec 31 for all)  to a calender year/subscription year (your membership lasts a complete year, join in May, membership ends in May).

[IJK3770]

Now that would be a "frigging" nightmare.  What are they thinking?
Cheerily
IJK

[fabulous fifth]

Jerry: A possible option would be to have pro-rated dues that decline each month into the membership year, thus keeping the calendar year membership program intact, but charging a sliding amount as the year progresses.

[easingwr670]

Another QM's nightmare. Some QMs can't add 2 and 2, how are they going to accept prorated National and Post dues. Not everyone pays National directly.

[fabulous fifth]

   They shouldn't be QM if they can't "add two and two"!

[Chris Weber 5468]

The only time any dues should be prorated if they adopt something like this is the first year's dues, and then the Post could convert this surplus difference with their regular dues and place it in their Admission Fees Fund.
If they adopt this, when your Anniversary Date comes up, Your full dues would apply.
It would still be a mess for National and Departments to figure out their Budgets.

[easingwr670]

Right "Fab5", they should not be QMs however, in my several years as an inspector I have found that there are too many Post QMs who got the job because he/she was a likable person in the post.

[Jerry P3150]

   I am in favor of the calendar year for annual membership (I actually prefer that all annuals go to Life, but that is a different discussion).  I will give you my thinking about the subject and see if I can change your mind.  As a active recruiter, 35 members recruited this year, I have had to explain numerous times to new members why their membership expires on Dec 31st after only several months as a member.  The member usually figures this out because by the time they get their new membership card, they get a renewal letter from National.
   I see several positive aspects to the calendar year:  Now most Posts wait till the 1st quarter to contact renewals because they need the numbers to get their 100%.  Under the calendar system, renewals would be spread out over 12 months.  So more Posts would be  involved in their renewals and interactions with their members. The membership contests would remain the same, ending June 30.
  The Quartermaster workload would actually be less, each month the QM would enter those members that renewed, National would just issue the card based on their ending anniversary date. 
  I don't think pro rating membership is the way to go.
  Another advantage is Posts could not play the membership number games before the end of June.

[d.peirce]

Speaking as a Quartermaster of a small Post (Past three years 100%) I have had the usual problems spoken of here, except, my problems are naturally much smaller.
I have found when calling an annual member who has not renewed. That even though he has not yet enjoyed 12 months of membership. His condition as a member would change December 31st.
Anger usually is the response. Next comes the question: Why? To respond that his Officers might not get to wear white is similar to criticism of a non-virginal bride of his family who also desires to wear white.
If, on the other hand, my worry is that the "Post" is concerned over whether he wishes to support the objectives of the Post, and we need him. --  Does he need help? Aid? Assistance in any way?
I am entrusted. as an Officer, to question in behalf of all. I think that is an Honor!
New members apply. Older members decrease. Any member may be in difficulty. They are all my brothers. Our first responsibility is to each other!
Why change something that works?
1/4 peirce

[fabulous fifth]

   I am in favor of the calendar year for annual membership (I actually prefer that all annuals go to Life, but that is a different discussion).  I will give you my thinking about the subject and see if I can change your mind.  As a active recruiter, 35 members recruited this year, I have had to explain numerous times to new members why their membership expires on Dec 31st after only several months as a member.   The member usually figures this out because by the time they get their new membership card, they get a renewal letter from National.
   I see several positive aspects to the calendar year:  Now most Posts wait till the 1st quarter to contact renewals because they need the numbers to get their 100%.  Under the calendar system, renewals would be spread out over 12 months.  So more Posts would be  involved in their renewals and interactions with their members. The membership contests would remain the same, ending June 30.  Jerry: You wouldn't have to do any explaining If they paid for a pro-rated annual membership after the first of January each year, and only for that portion of the current year from the time the new member joins.
  The Quartermaster workload would actually be less, each month the QM would enter those members that renewed, National would just issue the card based on their ending anniversary date. 
  I don't think pro rating membership is the way to go.
  Another advantage is Posts could not play the membership number games before the end of June.

[kacal]

there is no reason to have to explain why membership dues happen to come due prior to 12 months the first year IF they were informed at the time of signing up. That's like signing up someone witout proof of eligibility and then telling them they don't qualify.
The Moose Lodges operate on what I believe a quarterly system and while fine and well, you have to check the dates closely to ensure they can attend; not just see the current year. That's every meeting and everytime they come in the door. I have seen several members get upset at just getting asked to show their card, especially life members. Just because you and most everyone in the place knows you does not mean I do.
I personally like the calender year. I have had no problem once I explain when they expire and when we start looking for next years dues. I have had members sign up in June knowing that I'll start asking again in July. Some will chose to wait till July and they get till the end of the following year. It may not help your #s for the current year but they will appreciate the truth. Therefore they may renew next year.

[MPMcMahon]

The real answer is to convert from a calendar year to a fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) to coincide with the Department, District, County and Post Year, as All Elected officers below Department take office upon the conclusion of the Department Conventions in June and the Department Officers take Office July 1.  So that would make the most sense.

[Redmaxx 7546]

I would agree that we need to have one uniform calendar. I don't care if it is a fiscal year, calendar year or marked with a sundial. Membership is from July to June, the administrative year is from roughly the end of June to the end of June, All State Commander is from May to April. Lets make everything the same. Make it January to December or July to June. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it.

[Jerry P3150]

I would like to keep the focus on the membership year.  You are right about all the different dates, but one thing at a time.  As I stated before, I am in favor of individual  membership being a calendar year (the month you join is the start of your year).  Right now e-membership is shut down while National goes through their yearly ritual of resetting all membership.  This would not happen under a calendar year process.
 

[Redmaxx 7546]

Why doesn't the VFW do like the DAV does and only have life memberships? That would put a stop to having to track down non-active members and beg them to pay their dues. It would also make it easier for the Post QM because all they would have to do is forward the application and payment right to National instead of forwarding dues as they trickle into the Post from July 1 to December 31 (some members pay their dues at the Post rather than National for some reason). I know of some members of my Post that refuse to pay their dues until December 31 so that they get every penny of their dues from the year before. The Post QM has so much responsibility and work to do now, I am sure that they would appreciate having some of it taken away. If this were to happen, we wouldn't have to worry about any type of annual or calender year and then we could get rid of the membership requirements for All State and All American Commander programs and we as an organization can get back to doing what we are supposed to be doing to help our service members, veterans, their widows and orphans.

Just throwing it out there for what it is worth.