What's up with these membership organizations in Philly? I'm new to the area so I join a few organizations at a higher than entry level to "get invited" to some of their swell events and meet people. I want to get involved with your cause. Now, months later, I read about all of these great events you are holding, post facto. I read about the special programs, the galas, the unveilings, where was I? Did I miss something, like a notice somewhere? I could excuse one, maybe. But for all of your events???
Does any of this ring true with you? No updates; no communication; no invites. Just gimme your money once a year. Could you remind me why I joined?
It is not even remotely possible that I could have been blacklisted this quick. I haven't even been invited to your swell functions, for which, I would pony up the ante, if given the opportunity. Like I said, I joined to get to know more about you and your organization and your events. I am a social being. I am a curious sort; a life explorer.
No not even an e-mail. I am not even e-mail worthy. All that costs is time. Do you have to join at the life member rate to receive a paper invitation to your events? That option was not clearly posed to me upon completing your form, submitting my personal information and you taking my money. If I knew I'd have to give more to get an invitation to give you more, I might have considered that.
Or, how about this one? I "volunteer" for your major fundraising event last year. As the director screams at her staff that she needs a wine pourer "
RIIIIIGGGGGGGGHHHTTT NOOOWWWWW" and demands someone drop the job they are doing, which winds up to be me, I get re-directed. I understand stress with events (been there) and recognize that perhaps the volume of my voice may have exceeded normal levels. (No excuse, but I am Irish, come from a large family and you had to speak the loudest in some cases to be heard.)
But I always went back and spoke with the volunteers and personally thanked them. I didn't continue to shoot daggers at them by glaring at them all night long. Acknowledgement notes were immediately on my to-do list. When I plopped down several hundred dollars on your silent auction items, I thought maybe a thank you letter might have been in order. It must have been too painful.
When I did receive a badly xeroxed receipt for my portion of a donation, clearly 7 months after the event and well after April 15, I was disappointed that I spent any money at all towards your mission. Now, I understand that same event is being held next week. Was I invited?
Or, how about those groups, (and you know who you are), that expect me to drop everything because you've decided that when you are going to invite me, it's clearly because I'm on the d-list? You haven't received enough response from your A-listers, and now, 2 days before, you may consider me worthy enough to give you my money and attend. What happened to the first mailing that went out a month ago? Please tell me there was a mailing a month ago.
I encourage organizations and individuals to use shameless promotions; not shameful such as those listed above. Folks, you are prospect mining. You can only engage others to participate in your dreams, if you invite them. Are you alerting your paying audience to what's happening on a regular basis and asking them to participate with your activities regularly? Don't make me feel like you're throwing me a bone. I could be the biggest donor you've ever blown over.
So today, on this very day, I'm volunteering elsewhere. Today, my money is going to someone else who may care about my cash. You didn't like my money enough before, you are going to have to work harder this next round. We'll see where we are next year, maybe, this cycle will end.
CALL TO ACTION:
What's up with that? Tell me your story about an organization you belonged to or donated to that used "shameful" promotion tactics.
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