E-Business Improvements

Over the past year, the National staff has been working hard to provide you with improved online technology including a new AFA website, electronic funds transfers for chapter and state support payments, more user-friendly forms, more accurate roster control, and other improvements.  Between now and mid-summer, additional capabilities will be fielded.  We are currently introducing AFA "communities," a capability for our councils, chapters, states, and other groups to locate their correspondence, files, and other information in the "cloud" so any member of that community can easily access it.  The Field Council is currently beginning to use it and other field organizations will be able to take advantage of this soon.  By the end of the second quarter we'll roll out web-based reporting where chapters will be able to submit and track their reports all the way from the chapter to AFA National.  There will be no more misplaced or lost reports, rosters, or plans!  As each of the new capabilities comes online, we'll keep you informed and, when deemed necessary, provide guidance and directions on how to fully utilize them. 

eMembers

You should all be aware that we recently unveiled a new one-year eMember category of AFA membership.  It's another tool for you to use in recruiting and retaining members.  The only difference between an eMember and a traditional  AFA member is that the eMember will not receive the printed magazine, they will instead get an online version of Air Force Magazine.  A one year eMembership is $30. In the first week we've recruited 70 new eMembers.

Some frequently asked questions about the new eMemberships include:

1. Will traditional members who get the print magazine also have access to the online magazine?  Ans: Yes, as well as access to all online content on the Air Force Magazine website.
2. Are we concerned about this impacting production of the printed magazine, making it more expensive to produce?  Ans:  Yes, and we will be monitoring that closely.  But, more advertisers accept the fact that online advertising and print advertising are both valuable to them.  The online magazine will contain the same ads as the printed version.
3. Will there be a reduced cost eMembership category for Community Partners and Cadets?  Ans:  No, not at this time.

Later this summer, some of the free content currently available on the Air Force Magazine website will be restricted to AFA members only and no longer available to the general public unless they join.   At each milestone in this process we will keep you informed about the coming changes so you will be able to pass the word to your members.  We hope this will attract a new segment of the population to become AFA members. Chapter recruitment is, and will remain, vital to the health of our association. 

Chapter Reporting

If you've turned in your fourth quarter reports but haven't gotten your support payment, you should verify your annual officer roster and activity and finance plans have been received and recorded by AFA National.  If any of those are missing, there will be no support payments until they are accounted for.  It's the chapter's responsibility to ensure those documents have been submitted and recorded. 

Membership

Each month, for the remainder of the year, you'll find Newsline articles aimed at chapter membership recruitment/retention, community partners and best practices in recruiting and retaining members.  Look for it.  We need your continued help in this are.

Scott

Scott Van Cleef

Vice Chairman-Field Operations