Issue:
Membership – How will AFDO increase the size of its membership and foster active involvement by its members?

Actions Completed in 2003:

¨      Conducted a special planning session for the Board of Directors in March 2003 in New Orleans, LA. The purpose of the session was to review past membership recruitment and retention efforts to determine areas and corresponding methods for improvement.  Various membership issues and concerns were discussed as well as means to enhance membership benefits.

¨      Continued to refine the mentoring process to insure that new members attending the Annual Conference are informed and included in a very personal way.

¨      Presented training workshops of value to people who work in the areas of foods, drugs, medical devices, and imports.  (More detailed information is contained in the section titled “Issue: Training”).   Training workshops were well received by current and potential AFDO members.  These workshops provide a tangible, valuable product that demonstrates the value of AFDO membership.

¨       The President and the Executive Director participated in the meetings of all six AFDO affiliates to solicit and understand affiliate needs for assistance, information, and input to and from AFDO, and to stress the importance of the symbiotic relationship between AFDO and its members.  Affiliate members, who are not members of AFDO, were strongly encouraged to become members.  

¨       Continued to identify and consider more deeply the varying needs of AFDO retirees and other alumni.

¨       Issued a revised “conservation letter” to encourage non-renewing members to renew their membership and provide information about their needs.

¨       Utilizing the Membership Committee, developed a new Membership Strategic Plan for recruiting and maintaining AFDO members.  The draft of the plan was completed in December of 2003 and will be evaluated for approval by the Board in January 2004.