Re: Museum visitor sign in log and donation container

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Paul Wolter (pawolter@gmail.com)
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:22:18 -0400



Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:22:18 -0400
Message-ID: <ce35c8af0906160522n4a15bdd6l5d13441a8810fbda@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Museum visitor sign in log and donation container
From: Paul Wolter <pawolter@gmail.com>

Our membership benefits consist of our newsletter (6 times a year) and a 20% discount on most books and merchandise. I suspect that a county historical society may have a more general appeal than one with a more specific focus like yours (if I am reading your name correctly)

On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM, Monette Bebow-Reinhard <grimm1@bayland.net
> wrote:

> We have membership too but the subscriptions have come to a virtual
> standstill. Oh yes, the town is all behind us renovating this museum, but
> only a few have gotten behind it with a lousy $15. Most people on my list
> are outatowners.
>
>
>
> Do you give membership benefits?
>
>
>
> Monette
>
> Oconto Archaic Copper Museum
>
>
>
> *From:* localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu [mailto:
> localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu] *On Behalf Of *Paul Wolter
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 09, 2009 10:03 PM
> *To:* localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
> *Subject:* Re: Museum visitor sign in log and donation container
>
>
>
> This is kind of related to the donation jar discussion...but the best thing
> we ever did was make membership categories above just basic. Our basic
> individual membership is $20 (don't sell yourself short here either...the
> cinema these days is roughly half of that!) and then we have a family
> membership at $35 and then other categories like Friend - $50, Supporting -
> $100, Patron - $250...right on up to $5,000+
>
>
>
> We don't give any coffee mugs or mouse pads or anything special to the
> upper levels. They just get their name in a different category in the
> newsletter list of new and renewed members. (we do invite our $100 and up
> members to a special Christmas social)
>
>
>
> We discovered that people will almost never fill in a membership form as a
> basic member ($20) and fill in the "Donation" line with an extra $80. What
> they will do however is sign up at the $100 level because it is there and
> there a little box to check next to it. It has worked like a charm for us.
>
>
>
> If you can come up with incentives all the better I guess but we have not
> found a need. Plus some people are turned off by the "free" gift you are
> sending to them at upper levels when we all know that it cost something.
> (money which many people would rather see put to good use in the
> organization)
>
>
>
> Another point while I am on the subject...you must have an aggressive
> membership retention program (i.e. renewal letters, thank you for joining
> letters etc.) If they don't respond to a membership renewal letter the
> first time, try it again in a few months. If they don't respond after a year
> drop them off your list and for heaven's sake don't give away newsletters to
> people that aren't in relatively good standing. They'll never renew if
> there getting the newsletter for free anyway.
>
>
>
> Donation boxes are great but you must tell visitors that donations are
> greatly appreciated. Don't expect too many people to give just because it's
> there. We all have to be unafraid to ask. Also push membership at that time.
>
>
>
> Paul Wolter
>
> Sauk County Historical Society
>



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