The Playground Corvette Club became Lifetime Members of the Museum in 2024 and Ambassador, Stephen Noble, gives his advice on how to convince your club to join or upgrade in this article.
A Lifetime Membership is the crown jewel of commitment to the preservation of our beloved Corvette sports cars. It takes a highly active, well-informed Ambassador to logically present how and why your club should donate limited resources to become a Lifetime Member. The listed tips below will assist you in presenting to your club, a logical appeal for achieving this cherished status.
Do Your Homework
Be well-read about all aspects of Museum Membership. For assistance, contact the Director of Membership, Andrea Bateman. She is very knowledgeable and highly responsive.
Setting the Stage
– Plan to concisely present the material once. Don’t get in a hurry to make the presentation.
– Visually present your case with the use of a 3’ x 2’ dry-erase board. Use multiple colors to highlight bullet points.
– Practice your presentation.
– Dress nicely for addressing the group. You are representing the Museum. If possible, wear a Museum lanyard that you received during the Ambassador Academy.
– Pick a club meeting that normally has the most members present.
Presentation
– Take charge of the meeting and stay on task. Seek assistance from club officers to prevent ‘side bar’ discussions during your presentation. Expect questions about where the funding will come from. Respond with, “Thank you for the question, we will get to that topic in just a moment.”
– Anticipate some negative feedback. Don’t take it personally and always be diplomatic. Remember, you are asking your club to make a significant monetary donation.
Helpful Facts for Your Presentation
– The Museum is a non-profit organization.
– Your club already displays a commitment to the Museum through the appointment of an Ambassador and obligating annual Business Membership donations.
– An annual Business Membership requires a donation of $250 per year.
– Calculate how many years your club has donated to the Museum and be prepared with the total dollar amount.
– A Lifetime Membership requires a $3,000 donation which is the equivalent of 12 years of annual donations.
Closing the Deal
Remind your club that a Lifetime Membership is a selfless deed for our younger members and future generations. Before proceeding with funding options, you need a Yes or No vote to ascertain the interest in a club Lifetime Membership. Most clubs require a vote to obligate funds. Do this transparently and in compliance with your club’s bylaws.
Where does the funding come from?
– Ask members for the funds! Immediately after the vote, circulate a notebook for them to sign their name with a funding pledge. I did this, and it really works. Don’t be shy; ask them!
– Sell trinkets or 50/50 raffle tickets.
– Seek sponsorship funding. Reward their generosity by holding show and shines at their establishment or advertise them on your website.
– If long-term funding is required, create a financial budget line to ‘earmark’ the funds. Set yearly goals and report the status during monthly meetings.
In Summary
Clubs who obtain Lifetime Membership should be very proud that they are fully committed in celebrating America’s Sports Car and preserving our “home base,” the National Corvette Museum.
