Re: [AGA-mcm] I can't understand how their minds work; what's the matter don't they watch Les Crane

[Cheryl Rogers <cheryl@rightstuffwebsites.com>]

What is our goal, purpose, mission statement? Tell them what it is and how 
we accomplish it.

# to disseminate information about aquatic plants.

We do this primarily by publishing TAG, the only English-language journal 
on the subject. It is an all-volunteer journal: all contributing authors, 
editors, layout, photographers, artists are unpaid and mostly members.


# to study and improve upon techniques for culturing aquatic and bog plants 
in aquariums and ponds.

Our members do this, and discuss their experiences at the convention and 
online, and write articles for TAG. We also have domestic and foreign 
speakers who are experts on the subject make presentations at the 
convention so we can learn from them.


# to increase interest in aquatic gardening.

Membership promotions, flyers, web site, contest, etc.


# to promote fellowship among its members.

Member list and convention.


More thoughts:

We could differentiate "membership" from TAG publication. TAG is published 
exactly four times per year, and we can give dates because that's when the 
membership list was generated from the database. For membership, I update 
memberships darn near daily, but certainly three times per week. I send 
three renewal notices per quarter, and I can give approximate dates when I 
did that because I wrote it on my calender. Thank goodness for my calendar.

I will research my e-mails tomorrow re: other activities. We conducted a 
membership drive, and several clubs asked for promotional packets--I gave 
free TAGs and a free AGA membership to each one as a membership recruitment 
tool.

I also creatd a Group Discount and Premium Club program, but haven't had a 
chance to pursue that. Maybe we shouldn't include them.

We published an informational brochure. We gave some of them, along with 
free TAGs, to Ray.

We offer free web site links to our members and hobby-related businesses.

Erik already said this, but Mom worded it well: we offer an online mailing 
list for no remuneration helping people to solve their plant-related 
problems (yay List Mom, who is visiting me right now).

We support the formation of local planted aquaria groups.

Sean Winterton's identification key was offered FREE to hobbyists. He's not 
a member, but we heavily promoted it.

More tomorrow, maybe.

Cheryl
_______________________________________________
AGA-mcm mailing list
AGA-mcm@thekrib.com
http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-mcm