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Do the Math—Membership Counts!

Do the Math—Membership Counts!
By Brian J. Wagner
NAPS Immediate Past President

While sleeping-in one morning (to be honest, it’s been every morning since retiring), I awoke to the smell of coffee and the sound of “Are you up yet?” I then began to think, “How can I best salvage the rest of my retirement day and count it as productive?”

Well, as I kept pouring the coffee, the wheels began to turn. First, besides being a person who loves coffee and ice cream, I also love numbers and counting. Second, I love sharing information with NAPS members.

After finishing my second pot of coffee by 9:30 a.m., the caffeine really began to kick in. I began to think very, very, very fast how best to combine my love of numbers, counting and sharing NAPS information to ensure the rest of my day was productive. Here’s the scoop.

During my 11 years as a NAPS resident officer and six as a regional vice president, I recall drinking a lot of coffee, but also being pretty productive writing articles for The Postal Supervisor. Therefore, I thought, between sips of coffee and scoops of ice cream, I could write a productive article about math and NAPS membership. Basically, when you do the math, membership counts. So, let’s do some very quick membership math.

As of the December 2021 DCO, NAPS had 23,968 active and 1,360 associate members for a total membership of 25,328. There are approximately 8,769 or 27% eligible non-members, excluding postmasters and USPS Headquarters-reporting EAS employees who do not appear on NAPS’ nonmember list from the Postal Service.

For this writing, we will use 8,769 eligible EAS nonmembers. When you do the math, there are approximately three NAPS members to every eligible nonmember (25,328/8,769 = 2.89).

This 3:1 ratio is a great opportunity for branches to assign a few members to tag team and recruit one eligible nonmember to join NAPS. Assigned members can share with that nonmember stories and experiences about the benefits of NAPS.

Hopefully, at least one story will resonate and the nonmember will join. By increasing membership, NAPS Headquarters becomes financially stronger to further enhance member representation.

Do the math. Let’s assume that, over the next month, 5% of the 8,769 nonmembers (438) join NAPS. Nationally, membership dues income would increase by approximately $39,858 (435 x $91 annual NAPS Headquarters per capita, per active member). Imagine if NAPS membership increases by at least 5% every month over the next year or two! It’s not magic. It’s monetarily membership math and magnificently possible.

Local and state branches also benefit from increased membership. Let’s do the math. For example, let’s say a branch’s dues for an active member is $13.50 per postal pay period. When accounting for NAPS Headquarters’ per-capita share per member of $3.50 per postal pay period, the branch’s annual net dues per active member is $260 ($13.50-$3.50 = $10 per 26 postal pay periods).

If a branch recruits a few new active members each month from their nonmember list, the branch’s treasury grows financially stronger. These finances further support the representation of members. Plus, the branch moves closer to achieving 100% NAPS membership. As for those already at 100% membership, congratulations!

Membership not only counts financially for branches, but in membership activity and votes, as well. First, the more a branch grows in membership, the bigger the pool of candidates interested in seeking a branch officer position and more members for committee assignments and branch representation at NAPS training seminars and state and national conventions.

Second, every vote counts. For every 10 members (active and associate), a branch earns one vote at a NAPS national convention. Voting is a priceless act of democracy. Do the math: More members means more branch participation and votes. It’s a win-win!

Whether your branch is at 100% membership or not, all members can financially benefit from recruiting new members. All active or associate members will receive a $25 check from NAPS Headquarters for each eligible nonmember they sponsor. It doesn’t matter if the eligible EAS employee is affiliated with your local branch or not.

It is no secret that active and associate members may recruit eligible nonmembers through the mail, attending USPS training and Career Awareness Conferences or addressing a new supervisor training class of newly promoted craft employees. The key is to make contact.

Ask the nonmember to join NAPS and provide them a NAPS 1187 membership form, either in person or via the mail. However, in order to receive a $25 sponsor check for recruiting a nonmember, the member must complete the “NAPS Sponsor” section on the 1187 before it is mailed to NAPS Headquarters. Do the math. You can earn $125 just by signing five new members ($25 x 5).

But wait, there’s more to this membership math madness. NAPS Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Warden initiated a new membership High-Five Club. Starting in January, for every five new members sponsored in 90 days, the recruiting member receives a special High-Five Club NAPS pin and an additional $25 check for sponsoring those five new members. (Click here to see Warden’s column in the February 2022 issue for details.)

Again, the qualifying factor is to complete the “NAPS Sponsor” section on the 1187. Do the math. Receive $25 for each new member sponsored. And now, receive an additional High-Five Club $25 for having sponsored those five new members and for every five members thereafter.

Speaking earlier of priceless, when you do the math, membership also counts regarding the Supervisors’ Political Action Committee. SPAC is our legislative fundraising arm that raises dollars to aid political candidates who support NAPS’ legislative priorities.

SPAC contributions are accepted online or by sending a check or money order directly to NAPS Headquarters. You also may make contributions through USPS payroll deduction or via OPM for NAPS retirees. Do the math. SPAC counts.

In 2021, 896 or 3.4% of active and associate NAPS members contributed $210,888.72 in cash to SPAC, averaging $235.37 per contributing member. It’s impressive to note that 53 of the 896 members donated $1,000 or more to SPAC, becoming a member of SPAC’s President’s Ultimate Club. However, just as impressive is that every dollar contributed to SPAC counts toward supporting NAPS’ legislative efforts. Again, let’s do the math.

If the total number of 2021 SPAC contributors (896) increased by 5% a month over the next 12 months, SPAC contributors would increase to 1,609. If they all donated the 2021 SPAC average amount of $235.37, total SPAC contributions would be approximately $378,700—a 79.6% increase over 2021’s SPAC total. A 5% monthly increase in the number of SPAC contributors is very conservative considering, as of this writing, there are approximately 25,328 NAPS members eligible to contribute to SPAC.

I must say this has been a very productive article on math madness, crazy counting and magnificent membership sharing. It’s been so productive, my caffeine buzz is definitely gone; I may need something stronger. However, nothing can be stronger than the common denominator in this article—NAPS members!

However, I have two more productive items to complete today. One, my afternoon retirement nap. And two, my ice-cream-flavor-of-the-month recommendation: Ben & Jerry’s whiskey biz!