Membership secretaries are asked to note the following information regarding a change in our definitions for the various membership types. These will be introduced from the November run onwards (to arrive with you in early December).
These are generated by the ‘master database’ of our CRM system and include new membership counts.
1 Background
Following many months of development we are now in the position to provide accurate data on the size of our membership base. We will have readily available information to assist in membership administration and the management of our membership across areas and groups.
This builds on the CRM improvements and we now have data from the system that covers a range of key performance measures including, for example:
• Membership numbers (by individuals ie a joint membership equals 2) for Areas and Groups
• Membership status changes – new members (active), payment pending, lapsed, resigned, deceased (see below for definitions)
• Membership numbers split by membership type – annual, life, individual, joint and concessionary
These reports will include updated information from the reported period.
Please note: these reports will not yet show affiliated groups/clubs. We are also not yet able to provide full membership lists – these are, however, in development.
2 Membership Status definitions
An important part of this process has been the review of our membership status definitions; these are the core descriptors that are used to specify our different types of ‘membership status’ and they underpin the numeric data as referred to in these reports.
These replace the previous definitions over which there was much confusion (e.g. the ‘overdue’ status).
Status – Active
1. The person has a current paid subscription to the Ramblers
2. The person is included in membership counts
The membership count on the front of the report only includes members who are ‘active’
Status - Payment Pending
1. The person’s last subscription has ended within the last 3 months and the renewal has not yet been processed
2. The person may have sent in their payment and it is awaiting processing
3. The person will not be included in membership counts whilst in this status
4. The person will not be reported as having left an area and group
5. The person will still receive their membership benefits e.g. Walk magazine, and also appear on label extractions.
Status - Lapsed
1. The person’s last paid subscription ended more than 3 months, but less than 15 months ago
2. The person is not included in membership counts
3. The person’s record is stamped with a leave date (3 months after their last subscription ended)
4. The person will be shown as having left their associated area and group in the next monthly reports (if renewal payment is not processed meanwhile)
5. Further attempts to engage the former member to renew are made via direct mail etc.
Status - Inactive
1. The persons last paid subscription ended more than 15 months previously
2. The person is not included in membership counts.
Status - Resigned
1. The person has actively notified us of their wish to resign their membership
2. The person is not included in membership counts
3. The leave date is the date at which they notified us of their wish to resign.
Status – Deceased
1. We have been notified in this period that the indicated person is deceased.
If you have any queries, please contact Iain.Johnston@ramblers.org.uk.
