Phone-a-thons Help States, NCGA Recruit Growers (2-17-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) encourages its members to find creative ways to recruit and retain membership. Last night, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) did just that, possibly bumping its membership totals by 272 thanks to a phone-a-thon by its growers and checkoff representatives.

The 272 growers who said they would renew membership or agree to join set a record for MCGA’s phone-a-thon. The association has two to three phone-a-thons each year as part of its membership drive.

“When you get a big group working together, it’s a fun night,” said Richard Peterson, MCGA membership chairman. “We make it a friendly competition. We have hourly prizes for the top recruiters, along with pizza and beverages. We have a good time with it, and we’re really happy when we get that many new members.”

Twelve MCGA board members attended the membership drive. Peterson said the event has a good success rate. At last February’s phone-a-thon, 199 growers said they would renew or join, of which about 80 percent eventually did.

MCGA pitched the success the association has had in promoting E85 in Minnesota and noted that MCGA and NCGA are active in holding together the current farm bill through 2007 while working on the components of the new one.

“We talk about what we do at NCGA plus what the state association has done,” Peterson said. “The big thing to stress is that, when we go to St. Paul or Washington, D.C., to discuss ethanol, water or livestock issues, our voices are heard.”

NCGA Membership Manager Byron Keelin said phone-a-thons are a great recruiting tool for states.

“Phone-a-thons are a great opportunity to get grower recruiters together and spread their message to other growers just like them,” said Keelin. “It is one of the most effective ways to recruit members.”