Society Posts Best Member Retention in 10 Years

Membership Decline Halts

By Frank Pagani

The NYSSCPA currently has its best member retention record in 10 years and has halted a three-year decline in membership, according to preliminary figures for the fiscal year that ends May 31.

"It's nice to get back in the plus column," said Barry Doll, chair of the Membership Committee. "For the first time since 1994­1995, we did not lose more members than we gained, a pattern that had chipped away more than 275 members each year from our membership base."

This year, only 569 individuals failed to pay past dues compared to 772 last year--a 26 percent difference. The percentage of individuals who did not rejoin the Society dropped to 3.1 percent of total membership, beating the prior 3.4 percent low in 1990. In six of the last nine years, the percentage of lost members exceeded 4 percent, peaking at 4.8 percent in 1992­1993.

Doll pointed to the staff's accelerated direct mail and telemarketing campaign as the primary factor responsible for the increase in number of members rejoining the Society. The marketing campaign spotlighted new services and benefits such as FAE's POP pass for unlimited CPE; the enhanced website, www.nysscpa.org; expanded group insurance programs; and discounts on eye care, long-distance telephone service, brokerage transactions, and home heating oil.

Doll said that the NYSSCPA will continue to meet members' needs with quality insurance programs, affordable CPE, and other value-added benefits that he believes will help increase membership.

"The Society hopes to significantly expand the number of new members in the coming year," he said. "If the membership approves bylaw changes to expand the associate membership category, this will further support our recruitment efforts."

The five proposed new groups for associate membership are international associates, students, CPA candidates, CPA firm employees, and academic associates. All members recently received a mail ballot to vote on this and other proposed bylaw changes. April 26 is the deadline for receipt of mail ballots, and the Society will hold a special meeting at its New York City office on April 29 at which members can vote in person.