by Lorenzo Narvaez, Division B Director
Every year, Christmas arrives on December 25 like clockwork, and yet somehow parking lots still fill up with last-minute shoppers acting like Santa moved the date without telling anyone. Panic sets in, people scramble, and suddenly everyone is at the corner drug store the night before looking for a gift and wrapping paper. (Don’t ask me how I know that.)
Club renewals can feel a little like that too.
March 31 shows up every year right on schedule, but clubs can still get caught off guard when the renewal deadline quietly passes and the numbers change overnight. One club learned this the hard way a few years ago. By March 31, they had achieved all the goals needed for President’s Distinguished. Everything looked great, until the next morning, as they woke up and discovered their dashboard was suddenly short four members of the minimum level needed because of the renewal deadline the night before!
They recovered, but it was a stressful surprise that could have been avoided with a little planning.
And the impact can be even higher. For some small clubs, falling below eight members on April 1 affects contest eligibility for a member preparing to compete at a contest. That is not the April Fool’s surprise anyone wants.
You still have time to act before March ends. Remind members about renewals early and often. Encourage guests who have been thinking about joining, and to help, there are even incentives to increase membership such as “8 by 28th” for your club. Check your club membership numbers and calculate where your club will stand on April 1, not just March 31.
A little planning now can save your club membership anxiety later. Your club officers will breathe easier, your contestants will thank you, and your club can head into the final stretch with its hard-earned distinguished level still safely in hand.
Don’t let April 1 turn your club into a membership version of shopping at CVS the night before Christmas Eve. Leave the last-minute surprises to the folks racing through store aisles on December 24. Your club can be the one that planned ahead, renewed and new members added by March 31, and arrive in April smiling.
