Message from Membership

MEMBERSHIP PROSPECTS LOOK BRIGHT:
Lots of Silver Linings

We are very pleased to be serving the Illinois Federation this year as Co-chairs of the State Membership Committee. We have lots of exciting things planned for this landmark year. We
are sad to be severing ties with BPW/USA, but energized about the wonderful opportunity we have to grow State membership and redefine ourselves to better fit the needs of today’s working
women.

What to do with the $60 you won’t be paying in National Dues?

We can’t think of a better use for these dollars than for each of us to make an investment in our organization’s future by taking that “found money” to pay the first year’s dues for a new
or lapsed member. Every local knows someone who couldn’t or wouldn’t pay over $100 in dues these past couple of years. No, we don’t care how many years they haven’t paid dues. Just get
them back! With just $60, you can either pay state and local dues for one member or state dues for two members. Let’s face it, increasing membership is the only way for us to grow our organization and sustain our activities. New members are truly the gift that keeps on giving. And, let’s make a big push this summer to get the ball rolling.

And here’s what we mean by “sustain our activities”. Unlike National which was satisfied with e-members who never participated in LO meetings or events, we believe the real value to be gotten from BPW comes from being an active and engaged member. This includes networking to make personal and professional connections with other business and professional women, mentoring and being mentored, attending interesting and educational programs, taking on leadership positions from which you learn invaluable skills like how to plan a program, how to conduct a meeting, how to prepare an agenda or minutes or a treasurer’s report or a budget. And, most importantly, building lasting friendships with the most incredible women in Illinois. We just need to let the world know just how special we are.

Please be sure to tell these new (or old) members that IFBPW is stronger than ever and that we are getting back to basics and rededicating ourselves to advancing the mission of women
helping women. They should also be glad to learn that their dues the following year and thereafter will be closer to $50, depending on the amount of dues their LO charges. This is less than half of what dues have been the past couple of years.

Take advantage of the $5 discount we are offering on next year’s State Convention Registration

To encourage every member to work on recruiting new members, we are offering a $5.00
discount off next year’s convention registration fee to every member who recruits at least one
new member starting now. Yes ladies, these dollars will be coming right out of our pockets,
and we would like nothing more than to contribute $500 or more to the Federation next April because 100 or more convention goers successfully recruited at least one new member. Imagine:
nearly a 25% increase in membership and a little bonus for you. Sorry, but we can only offer one
$5 discount per member, regardless of the number of members you are able to recruit. But
don’t let that limit your efforts.

Our goal is to form new LO’s throughout the State

While we leave it to you to recruit new members locally, we will be working with our hardworking Committee, and any one else who can offer their assistance, to form new LO’s through out Illinois. At the present time, we have prospects in Bloomington-Normal, Peoria and
Springfield and are hoping to form Samothrace Clubs for college age women at the SIU campuses in Carbondale and Edwardsville. If you know anyone who lives or works in these communities, please pass along their names, phone numbers and email addresses.

Every member is on the Membership Committee

Finally, don’t forget that every single one of you is a member of the Membership Committee.
We also want to recognize those members who have stepped up and given us their commitment
to help us get the new LO’s going. They are Laura Balson, Kathy Beals, Paula Feigenbaum and
Tasha Roedl. If you want to help, too, just send one of us an email. Please email Anna Harkins
at anna.harkins@dupageco.org or Barb Yong at Blyong@golanchristie.com.

--Barbara L. Yong and Anna Harkins
State Membership Co-Chairs