Two-fers are spouses of members. They do not pay dues, yet enjoy all the benefits of membership and are treated like members. These tag-alongs do a disservice to your lodge. The lodge does not receive its portion of the dues for that person to whom they’re extending hospitality for events, education, entertainment and refreshments. The district is denied much needed funds to oversee regional programs. These individuals are also not taken into consideration for representation for district and international conventions.
The Simplified Dues Structure, taking effect on Jan 1, 2018 for U.S. districts and lodges, offers a solution that may help convince those tag-alongs to become members.
The new Family Membership category in the U.S. may be the incentive to convert the non-member spouses to membership. For just $95 per year, all individuals who share the same address can be members of Sons of Norway under the Family Membership category. All members age 16+ in a household are included in the official membership count for the lodge. In addition, the lodge will have more people to draw on to hold office and volunteer at events and activities. What’s more, the lodge will receive $28 for each Family Membership initiated or renewed after Jan 1, 2018.
Do you think that the $95 dues rate might discourage individuals, especially those on a fixed income, from taking advantage of this new category? An added feature of the Simplified Dues Structure is that members will have the option to pay dues either annually by check or credit/debit card or monthly by an automatic withdrawal from a bank account. For only $8/month an entire family (those residing at the same address) can now be members. (As a note, young adults who are away at college can qualify if they use the family address as their permanent address in the Sons of Norway database.)
What can be done?
- Encourage Family Membership for your primary members, their non-member spouses and young adults, ages 16+ who live in the family residence.
- Ask non-member spouses and frequent visitors to join! Point out that they already enjoy many of the benefits that our members do without fully supporting the organization. Their membership would not only help the lodge and organization by boosting numbers, but create a solid foundation for our fraternity by becoming a true member in Sons of Norway.
- Charge non-members for all lodge events (dinners, presentations, meetings, classes, etc). If members are already charged for some activities, charge non-members more. Make it financially worthwhile for spouses and frequent visitors to join.
Find additional information on the Simplified Dues Structure, here. Have questions? Please send an email to [email protected].
For ideas on how to recruit and retain members, contact Joe Eggers, Membership Coordinator, [email protected], (800) 945-8851 ext. 697 or (612) 821-4697.