In order to stimulate more recruiting throughout IFA, Carson Valley Chapter 72 has purchased 100 of these Recruiter awards, and is making them available to other IFA chapters at bargain prices. We are hoping by Convention time in 2005 that instead of seeing another yearly loss of 220 members, that we will recruit enough new members to offset our loss of members during the year. And that, maybe, we can even see an increase in membership.

We use the awards for immediate recognition. As soon as a member has recruited at least 2 new members, he has earned the basic award. We then make the formal presentation at the very next meeting. We feel that the quicker you get these awards presented and worn by the new Recruiters, the more attention you draw to the recruiting program. The more often your membership sees awards being presented, and awards being worn, the greater the incentive to recruit. When someone recruits 4 new members, he should receive an award with 2 of the footprint/2 bars. With 5 new members, he would then have an additional new member, and would need only one more to add another footprint/2 bar. The more footprint/2 bars, the better. As more bars are earned, they should be presented at the very next meeting. Naturally, you should encourage your Recruiters to wear their awards at meetings, though I doubt that much urging will be needed. We will soon be ordering footprint/10 bars (with a numeral 10 on them When a Recruiter has 4 footprint/2 bars and recruits 2 more members, he gets to trade in his 4 footprint/2 bars and receive a footprint/10 bar. .) I hope we'll need many of them.

Let's look at some numbers. The basic award (with one footprint bar) will cost the chapter $7.50, but will bring in $48 membership dues (for Chapter 72) which hopefully will keep coming in for years thereafter. The next two new members will earn the same recruiter an additional footprint/2 bar, which will cost the chapter only $1.50, and bring in another $48.00 dues. Keep in mind that the chapter pays for these awards only after receiving the dues checks. The awards are attached to clothing by way of a pair of small but quite strong magnets. One is glued to the back of the logo; the other goes inside the garment.

Chapter 72 made its first presentations at its June 2004 meeting, based on all new members during the 2003 -2004 fiscal year. We had eight presentations to make, seven basic awards, and one with four footprint/2 bars. It is up to your chapter to decide how it wants to utilize the awards. If you have a better plan than ours, let us know. We can learn too.

Inquiries and orders should be directed to IFA Chapter 72, P. O. Box 2242, Minden, NV 89423. We do recommend that you order a mix of basic awards and extra footprint/2 bars. If you know you have specific needs, such as awards with 2 or more footprint bars, we will be happy to assemble them for you (no charge.) Oh, and we don't charge for the shipping, either. Orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis, as we have no way to predict how fast they will arrive. We will try to anticipate your needs and reorder as needed.

Tell your friends why you enjoy Footprinters. Bring them to an IFA meeting. Have applications handy. Wear your award proudly. Get going...get more Footprinters!

Fred Hersey, IFA 72