NBS MEMBER BENEFITS

How do we attract and retain members?  What do we offer members they can’t get elsewhere?  What impact is the seemingly unlimited access to information online having on membership in organizations such as ours?  The NBS Board has been giving these questions considerable thought.  When members are asked the one benefit they value most, the resounding answer is The Bulletin.  After that comes worldwide camaraderie with people with the love of buttons in common. And, of course, button education is high on the list.  We love to share our knowledge and enthusiasm for our hobby.

In recent years we’ve seen a steady decline in membership, some from natural attrition but a majority from those who drop out after a year or two.   Are we not giving them the personal attention they desire?  Are they not finding state and local clubs?  Are we not providing the information they need?

Due to finances, several years ago the Board decided to get out of the handbook publishing business.  It was difficult to find members willing to update them, it was expensive not only to print but also to store and mail them.  The decision was made to publish future revisions as articles in Bulletins.  The challenge, still, is finding volunteers to do the updating.

We’re working to develop programs and policies to protect and ensure the future of the organization.  It’s our goal to share information with potential collectors while holding onto enough of our intellectual property to provide incentive to join the society.   It is felt a “members only” section of the website is the first step and we’ve begun to pursue that.

The challenge still remains to find ways of including our members without internet access while increasing online benefits for the rest.