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

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

Thanks, everything helps. Whether it gives me an entire
month of activities or a recasting of a sentence already
sent.


Please try to attach a date with each item, because, from
the viewpoint of a skeptical auditor, a list of the kind of
stuff AGA (imagines itself to) do isn't as persuasive as a
list of what AGA actually did, as evidenced by time (and
place if applicable).


Sorry folks. I know this sounds ungrateful on my part but
this is our last stab at the grail without giving up or
spending a small fortune on an an experienced nonprof-tax
attorney.

sh
--- Cheryl Rogers <cheryl@rightstuffwebsites.com> wrote:

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


We did this generally in about a 40-page application that
included the by-laws, mission statement, web-page
print-outs, list of types of events, a rather compelte
finanical accounting all the way back to incorporation and
the original seed money.

They want to know specifically what we did last year

sh
> 
> # 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.

They have that except I had to mention the parts we pay for
like printing, etc.

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

Thanks, new one on me.

> 
> 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.


Good spin.
> 
> 
> # to increase interest in aquatic gardening.


Got that.
> 
> 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.

great, thanks.
> 
> 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.

worth mentioning.

> 
> 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).

thanks,
> 
> 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.

very good, forgot that completely.
> 
> More tomorrow, maybe.
> 
> Cheryl
> _______________________________________________
> AGA-mcm mailing list
> AGA-mcm@thekrib.com
> http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-mcm
> 

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