MAAST bank account

[hobogato]

Ok, so as it has been pointed out, the maast bank account took a pretty big hit with the expenditures on LMAR.

We would like to build it back up, so we can continue to put on events like LMAR and move forward with other programs like maast scholarships and helping students with science fair projects and the like.

We will be holding some membership drives and working hard on increasing our number of sponsors, but we are open to suggestions...

please keep in mind that we are bound by the rules governing non profit organizations as we have finally been approved and recognized as a non profit organization, so some good suggestions may not be feasible.

please keep this thread on topic as it is for suggestions only

[allan]

How about membership forms at the lfs? I know it's primarily online submissions, but....

Active drives at the lfs would work as well. Some members sitting outside of the lfs talking to Maast interests.

I think that were we to stay our present course membership will climb. The honest up front approach such as bod not profiting from raffles would go a long way in the right direction. Not to mention the above the table approach under the current administration.

I still believe that there are a good amount of folks out there that have not heard of Maast.

[justahobby]

I agree w/ Allan. It was nice seeing L*MAR flyers in the LFS's. Maybe even ask them to drop a MAAST flyer in the bag with any purchase.... we do have the "extended family" now. And as far as I know, that is THE only local online forum for FW or reptiles.

[ErikH]

The only thing I did not like about the flyers is that they looked too much like advertisement. Maybe if they said in big bold letters "ARE YOU INTO SALTWATER FISH?" It would have grabbed more of the newbies attention. I noticed it right away because of the LMAR logo, but if it wasn't familiar, I don't know if I would have made the connection we have to remember the GP does not know what it is.

Justin, hillcountrychiclids (spelling is wrong I know) is a local FW site.

I think further expansion into the area of FW would be good and help drive more people to the site, and that is positive on all fronts.

[Mr Cob]

^that's why it said over $1500 in raffle items in Big Red....just for that same reason you mentioned above. I see what you are saying though...but still wanted you to know that we considered that same thought and that's why we put it on there. No one cares until there are free things offered.

I like Allan's idea of having literature in the sponsor shops if they wouldn't mind to boost membership.

[Europhyllia]

If somebody wants to sell me a special edition MAAST t-shirt with Rob's beautiful artwork on it I'd probably buy it (not super crazy about the old t-shirt design ;) )

[hobogato]

actually karin, we are officially out of the shirts with the old design, so new shirts/new design are on the agenda asap.

[FireWater]

As far as literature in the LFS. I am working on that as part of the marketing committee. Now that a major part of my time is no longer consumed with school and site related activities I can concentrate on other things. That is priority #1 on my list.

[DarkHorseMBA]

So I'm a web member and at first I did not consider joining, I did not see the value in charter vs web member. It's not until AFTER I joined the group and have received so much help, that I feel the group is something I's like to support. To the question is how does MASST relate that value proposition to non members. I have a couple Idea, I'm sure more will hit me later.

1. Workshops
These could be held at/with local vendors/sponsors. Nothing fancy, just a hour or so on topic or product. Some of the great knowledgeable members here could donate their time and run the workshop. Sponsors would get a traffic boost at their location. After the workshop the instructor could talk up the benefits of membership and maybe even some of the member only workshop that may be coming up. This would help prospective members, see value in membership and sponsors could pay to have th event at their location.

Some examples of workshops.
Fragging
Selecting live stock, what fish are compatible?
Dosing: When How, why?
Q/A sessions (ask the experts)
ATO systems


2. Vendor discount list
Have list of vendors offering discounts to MAAST members. The list should have % off or what ever sponsors are willing to do. Again this would build traffic for sponsors. For example I might go in to get salt mix for 10% off and buy other things. Again building value into my $25.

Just some Ideas.

[Mr Cob]

Let me know if/how I can help with the t-shirt designs and my artwork... :)

[roscozman]

We can also grow our membership by improving our image/awareness in the community. Kind of like a mini PR campaign to get exposure outside our current membership. This can be done with press releases to media outlets, food drives for the homeless, beach cleanup in Port A or Corpus Christi or even a coral propagation program - anything to get exposure. There are a great number of people who have fresh/saltwater tanks who have no idea this club exists.

Also, what about a representative outside a LFS or PetCo just giving out information. We do need to sign them up with a membership fee, just get exposure that we exist.

[Mr Cob]

I like the idea of setting up information booths from time to time...

[alton]

Maybe this sounds corny but what if we offered Charter Memberships for a month for free? After a month we send them a nice pm to let them know there month is going to be running out and we hope they would decide to join for a year. And please take the time to let us know what they liked, disliked and what we could improve on?

[Europhyllia]

Nice idea Alton. I wonder how tough it would be to implement for Brian?

I wouldn't have known about MAAST if somebody at a little shop called FinAddict hadn't told me about it. I think the LFS owners are crucial to get involved.

Perhaps we could make some kind of starter info for the LFS' to give out when they have a customer that's new to saltwater?
Maybe a little booklet of the basics like seawater parameters and desired aquarium parameters, algae cycle, etc. just 6 pages the size of a deck of cards and have it saying 'compliments of MAAST' with contact info or something like it.

Or even simpler and cheaper have little cards printed with those parameters in chart form and MAAST info on the other side so people can stick it in their wallet or tape it to the stand or whatever.
(you know how realtors and other business give out little cards that have a calender on the back, etc.)
Like the RFH chart:
9793
a little card like that would be nice to have and easy enough for the LFS' to hand out...

Personally I prefer to go for the expert stuff so I am hesitant to dilute the MAAST brand by advertising us as a 'pet everything'- after all it's called Marine-AAST. ;)

[roscozman]

Personally I prefer to go for the expert stuff so I am hesitant to dilute the MAAST brand by advertising us as a 'pet everything'- after all it's called Marine-AAST. I don't like it when things get wishy washy. ;)

Let's try to keep the ideas coming in before we start discounting or turning away ideas. In most brainstorming/suggestion sessions, all ideas are good ideas.

[Europhyllia]

I didn't say it was a bad idea. I said I prefer to turn to places that are specific about their purpose. ;) (hence the personally at the beginning at the sentence and the ';)' behind it.

[cbianco]

We could increase our attendance at local events by through two things:

1. Getting to know our sister clubs here in Texas (once again). Make sure that they know, we both need and want them to be active once again in "our" lives.

2. Advertising, advertising, ADVERTISING! I can have the tastiest food, at rock bottom prices, served by the best servers but if no one knows my restaurant exists, the customers will not come!

Christopher :)

[Europhyllia]

This can be done with press releases to media outlets
I think news release would be great free advertising! In fact it's why I suggested it for L*MAR and was going to compile a list of newspaper contacts but sadly the MAAST Marketing team didn't seem interested... :(

[Kristy]

Actually Allan did send out a press release or two.

[hobogato]

we also put it on several radio station and tv station community calendars

[FireWater]

I think news release would be great free advertising! In fact it's why I suggested it for L*MAR and was going to compile a list of newspaper contacts but sadly the MAAST Marketing team didn't seem interested... :(

We were interested just swamped. I am compiling a list so that myself and the rest of the marketing guys can get going. Would you by chance want to help out any Karin? Would love to have enthusiastic and helpful folks to add to the team.

[ramsey]

2. Advertising, advertising, ADVERTISING! I can have the tastiest food, at rock bottom prices, served by the best servers but if no one knows my restaurant exists, the customers will not come!

Christopher :)

I've seen this first hand. I noticed a thread on nano-reef asking if anyone was from Texas. I posted that I was and told people in the San Antonio area to check out MAAST. At least one person signed up because of this and had never heard of us. I think there's probably a ton of people that have never heard of MAAST but would love to join a local reef club. What about trying to get a partnership of some kind with other reef forums in addition to other local reef clubs?

[ramsey]

Another idea! What about giving sponsorship discounts for sponsors that give charter members discounts? For example, if a LFS is willing to give charter members a 25% discount, they get a good discount on sponsor fees. I think this would be a win-win situation. LFS's would be more willing to offer discounts and become sponsors and members would be far more likely to get a charter membership.

[ramsey]

One more! What about having monthly raffles? Each month you could raffle off a different item. I'm sure sponsors would be willing to cut MAAST a deal on an item for raffle. I don't expect to get free stuff but if we could get them to give it at cost. Make it only for charter members. That would be yet another incentive to become a charter member.

[jroescher]

Another idea! What about giving sponsorship discounts for sponsors that give charter members discounts? For example, if a LFS is willing to give charter members a 25% discount, they get a good discount on sponsor fees. I think this would be a win-win situation. LFS's would be more willing to offer discounts and become sponsors and members would be far more likely to get a charter membership.

There's been a lot of suggestions about offering discounts to sponsors for a variety of reasons. Also discounts for members at events, or for the raffles. The problem is that the sponsors and the membership fees pay the bills. If we discount them, we lose revenue to continue or expand.

[FireWater]

I've seen this first hand. I noticed a thread on nano-reef asking if anyone was from Texas. I posted that I was and told people in the San Antonio area to check out MAAST. At least one person signed up because of this and had never heard of us. I think there's probably a ton of people that have never heard of MAAST but would love to join a local reef club. What about trying to get a partnership of some kind with other reef forums in addition to other local reef clubs?

This sounds like a good idea. It is where I would like to think the general membership could and would help out the most. Several of us belong and/or browse several other forums. We should all be proud of the MAAST name and be able to pass it on where ever we are at. I am not sure of the logistics of offering to partner with advertising from one forum to another but, if members would post about us when they get a chance (with out offending or being obnoxious) it would go a long way.

[DarkHorseMBA]

So I'm a web member and at first I did not consider joining, I did not see the value in charter vs web member. It's not until AFTER I joined the group and have received so much help, that I feel the group is something I's like to support. To the question is how does MASST relate that value proposition to non members. I have a couple Idea, I'm sure more will hit me later.

1. Workshops
These could be held at/with local vendors/sponsors. Nothing fancy, just a hour or so on topic or product. Some of the great knowledgeable members here could donate their time and run the workshop. Sponsors would get a traffic boost at their location. After the workshop the instructor could talk up the benefits of membership and maybe even some of the member only workshop that may be coming up. This would help prospective members, see value in membership and sponsors could pay to have th event at their location.

Some examples of workshops.
Fragging
Selecting live stock, what fish are compatible?
Dosing: When How, why?
Q/A sessions (ask the experts)
ATO systems


2. Vendor discount list
Have list of vendors offering discounts to MAAST members. The list should have % off or what ever sponsors are willing to do. Again this would build traffic for sponsors. For example I might go in to get salt mix for 10% off and buy other things. Again building value into my $25.

Just some Ideas.

How about partnering with a LFS to allow people to join and pay for membership on the spot. Kind of what some other stores do with loyalty programs. Barnes & Noble, Game Stop, and etc. "join our club and get a discount today, and membership for future discounts.

[Mr Cob]

^good idea but all monies have to go through the Treasurer.

[Mr Cob]

One more! What about having monthly raffles? Each month you could raffle off a different item. I'm sure sponsors would be willing to cut MAAST a deal on an item for raffle. I don't expect to get free stuff but if we could get them to give it at cost. Make it only for charter members. That would be yet another incentive to become a charter member.

I think we are only allowed two raffles per year as a non profit organization. I think we can do door prizes any time we want though....but door prizes don't exactly bring in any money for the club.

Ramsey, I think you have great ideas....glad you post them as you think of them even if a few of them might not be attainable due to some of the club's limitations.

[DarkHorseMBA]

^good idea but all monies have to go through the Treasurer.

Maybe a weekly pick up process?

[Mr Cob]

Maybe a weekly pick up process?

...the Treasurer is the only person the club allows to "handle" club money. This takes away the possibility of mishandled funds. She is good too.

the thought behind this... if we expect our Treasurer to be accountable for any missing funds then no other hands can be in the pot.