Where Did All The Members Go?

Another reason they are not involved in PROBE is that we've done a pretty weak job of promoting ourselves. We have LOTS to offer the chapter editor and the chapter PR man. We are selling ourselves short. We need members and members need us. At the very least we should have every chapter editor and every chapter PR man on our rolls. My goal is to increase our membership to 1,000 by the end of the year

Taking Ownership of PROBE

• PROBE will manage its own database of membership. The secretary/treasurer will keep current and include expiration dates. Membership cards will be sent out as well as renewal notices each year (January 1-December 31: the PROBE Year).
• The PROBE treasurer will manage the bank account and be sent all checks from Kenosha, from those who sign up via annual secretary reports.
• The PROBE treasurer will keep those who submit their approved expenses (cost of doing their job) paid in full. An annual budget will be created.
• EVERY chapter will be contacted directly. Each PR man and editor will get an invitation to join.
• All PROBE officers and committee chairmen must be paid-up members to serve.
• All PROBE bulletin judges must be paid-up members to serve on a panel.
• The PROBEmoter will continue to be published in hard copy form quarterly with an "on-line" version also available.
• Offer to the membership the following benefits: The PROBEmoter, the BE contests, the PROTY Award, the Outstanding Achievement Awards, support via the mentor committee, a New Editor Packet, a COTS class in EVERY district, PROBE Web page, a How-To Editor Packet, a large list of exchange editors, and mentor program for making chapter Web pages.
• Encourage every editor who enters the district bulletin contests to become a member of PROBE but not make it a requirement.
• Offer a free one-year membership to every editor who qualifies for the IBC and enters to help encourage editors to enter the district contests.
• Increase the PR aspect of PROBE with an offer of support to the PR men of the Society, create an information packet and work with the VP of Mkt & PR & Committee, chapter coaches, etc.
• Increase PROBE Membership Dues from $5 to $10 a year starting January 1, 2002.
• Starting in 2002, voting on some items needing a decision by the general membership may be done by e-mail to the majority of the general membership (as kept by the official PROBE database). A form in the PROBEmoter will also be used for those without e-mail to vote via snail mail. The election of officers at the PROBE meeting at International will remain the same.

Plans Already Underway

To increase our membership I have appointed Dave Stock to the new position of Membership Vice President. He will be working to set up his committee and contact each chapter, editor and PR man with the invite to join. We also have a Web site for those who wish to join online: http://www.harmonize.com/probe/

The PROBE By-Laws have been changed to allow these changes to take place. Final approval will be requested of the Society Laws and Regulations Committee and the Society Board of Directors if necessary.

A PROBE e-mail network has been set up: contact Mr. Girvin to join. We will use this e-group to communicate to the troops.

I have appointed David Wagner to setup a new committee to offer mentors to those needing help creating Web pages for their chapters and their bulletins.

The New Dues Increase Approved

With the dues increased approved in Nashville and the increase in membership we look forward to a brighter future. The dues will go up to $10 January 1 (that's still a bargain and still very little investment). It's still a legitimate chapter expense and we hope all of you will support PROBE in this effort to gain strength and independence. I invite anyone who has any questions regarding this increase to feel free to contact me directly (or any board member). We need your support and hope you will join us as we build toward the future.

Great Things To Come

I believe we all have something to look forward to, a PROBE that fulfills its purpose: to help the editors and PR men help their chapters better promote barbershopping.