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Leap Into Membership

Leap Into Membership
By Brian J. Wagner
Past NAPS President

Leaping lizards, Batman, 2024 is a leap year—zowie!” Do you know what that means? On Feb. 29, we get an extra day—24 hours. What should one do with all those extra hours that come around only once every four years? Here’s the scoop!

You could binge-watch “Batman” franchise movies or the 1966-1968 “Batman” television series starring Adam West. Who? No, not Doctor Who. If you don’t know Adam West, ask a baby boomer! That was a bad idea; let’s leap to another suggestion.

You could catch up on all the sleep you lost during last year’s peak season. After further thought, I don’t believe using your extra 24 leap-day hours to catch up on sleep will happen. Especially if you still haven’t put away your holiday decorations or need to get to the gym to honor a New Year’s resolution.

Besides, you probably need about four leap-year days to recoup all the sleep you lost. Yeah, catching up on sleep was another bad idea. Well, let’s leap to a third suggestion.

This idea will avoid any nostalgic references that only baby boomers will get or suggestions that millennials or Gen Zers must explain to us boomers. How about spending your extra 24-hour leap day, Feb. 29, to “Leap into Membership” by signing a nonmem-ber to join NAPS?

Get your branch’s current non-member list and find a nonmember in your office or at a nearby postal unit. Personally visit this potential new NAPS member with a “Why Join NAPS?” brochure and a NAPS 1187 membership form in hand.

Talk to them about joining NAPS, then have the nonmember complete the 1187 during your visit. Scan and email the 1187 to NAPS Headquarters at join@naps.org for final membership submission. If you don’t have access to a scanner, your other option is to immediately mail the newly completed 1187 to NAPS Headquarters.

If a personal visit isn’t possible, give the potential new NAPS member a call at the office. Explain to them the benefits of NAPS membership. Offer to mail them a “Why Join NAPS?” brochure and an 1187. Include a preaddressed envelope to mail back to you or NAPS Headquarters. However, don’t forget to complete the sponsor section on the NAPS 1187 so you can earn a $25 sponsor check.

Holy moly, it’s not a “leap of faith” to ask a potential member to join NAPS. Rather, it’s a leap in the right direction to strengthen NAPS, not only in membership, but financially, as well.

Making one visit or call to a non-member on Feb. 29 definitely will not take up your entire 24 extra hours on leap day. That should leave you with plenty of time to binge watch some “Batman” episodes, put away those December holiday decorations, go to the gym, catch a short nap and possibly have spare time to do some volunteer work at a local charity or nonprofit. That’s what I call a productive 24 extra hours in 2024.

I am definitely not leaping to conclusions, but for those who have to work on Feb. 29, save those 24 extra hours on leap day until your non-scheduled day to “Leap into Membership” and contact a nonmember. But why stop on Feb. 29? Just continue to leapfrog to the 29th of each month or whatever day you want to ask and encourage potential members to join NAPS.

Enjoy your leap day and my ice-cream-flavor-of-the-month recommendation: mint cow tracks. Be safe and eat more ice cream!