It's pretty simple: The goal is to recruit new members -- and recognize and reward the recruiters.
So get ready, recruiters. A new program is coming your way.
Dan Smith, chairman of AAPG's Membership Enhancement and Development Committee, said the goal of the new program, "Recruitment, Recognition and Reward," is "to build and strengthen AAPG by increasing the Active membership, and to recognize and reward the members who work toward this achievement."
The program will begin on April 1, and participation is easy: Just sign your name in the recruiter's block on an Active application form and give it to a colleague who is not an Active AAPG member.
The reward side of the program is new and is not a contest -- it's an on-going program allowing the recruiter to accumulate points for as long as they wish.
It is different from past recruiting efforts because credit will be given only for new, reinstate or transfer to Active member applicants. Each new or reinstate to Active member applicant will earn the recruiter one point, and an applicant for transfer to Active member earns the recruiter one-half point.
Reward points can be cashed in after accumulating a minimum of five points, which equates to a $35-$40 reward -- or the recruiter may choose to continue building his account for a bigger/better reward.
For example, 25 points equates to a reward value of $185-$190. Recruiters' progress can be tracked on the AAPG Web site. Once a reward is claimed, those points are deducted and the recruiter can begin to build up points again.
The rewards are beautiful, one-of-a-kind mineral and fossil specimens, including:
- Fossil fish displayed on a brass stand.
- Polished ammonites.
- Petrified book ends.
- Onyx bowls.
- Amethyst geodes.
- Megalodon shark tooth.
As an alternative, the recruiter may request an AAPG Bookstore voucher of equal value.
Recognition of members who participate in recruiting new, reinstate or transfer Active members will be enhanced by service awards at various levels. These begin with modest tokens of appreciation, such as a desk flag or lapel tack, and increase appropriately as the number of new sign-ups increases.
A "Recognition" page on the AAPG Web site will acknowledge the recruiters and the work they have done. AAPG also will promote recognition at the local level through the recruiter society, section or region.
The two programs work together in that a recruiter is given credit in both the Reward and the Recognition Web pages for their efforts. However, they are not alike in that the recognition total will always increase as new Active members are recruited, while the reward point total will be lowered whenever rewards are redeemed.
So line up your prospects, folks. There are rewards to be reaped.
Membership forms can be downloaded from www.aapg.org, or by contacting the Member Services department at 1-800-364-2274.