Catalina Island Museum Patricia Anne Moore or Stacey Otte wrote:
>
> Hi.  We're in the midst of restructuring our membership
> categories--increasing costs for each category and adding/changing
> benefits.  Has anyone on the list been through this process and have any
> advice?  How did you present the changes to the membership?  Did you try
> to explain the increases?  And did you experience drop off in membership
> numbers?
>
> Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom!
>
> Stacey Otte
> Deputy Director
> Catalina Island Museum
> [log in to unmask]

One of the first things I did when I came here is revamp membership
categories and raise prices.  I combined that with an assertive campaign
for new members and increased the membership at least 100% in the first
six months.  It has leveled out at about 200% higher since then.

A lot depends on your current following and how you explain the reasons
for increasing dues.  Most of your contributors are probably intelligent
enough to understand that your organization must raise enough money to
support itself and to offer high-quality programs.

One thing to think about:  if you raise your dues too high you will
indeed lose some members.  Conversely, if your fees are reasonably low,
you numbers will--if you sell hard--increase.  What you need to decide
is, how much additional non-dues money can you generate--through
programs and/or solicitations--from those who are paying higher dues as
distinct from the larger group you might develop at lower dues.  I line
up on the side of keeping dues as low as possible to generate an optimum
number of members from whom I solicit additional contributions and who
fill my auditorium when we have programs and buy things in the book
store.  Striking that balance is difficult and sometimes requires a
little experimentation.  It is tough, though, to lower you dues once you
have raised them.
--
Bob Handy, Director
Brazoria County Historical Museum
Angleton, Texas
http://www.bchm.org