October 14, 2024
National Convention—What Wasn’t Accomplished?
By Dee Perez
NAPS New York Area Vice President
I want to thank New Haven, CT, Host Branch 3 and all the New Englanders who contributed to our 69th NAPS National Convention. Thank you for a wonderful time.
A special thank you to Jay Killackey’s widow Suann and daughter Jessalyn (soon to be married) and the Killackey-Russell Boston Branch 43 members for an emotional tribute to a great NAPS leader. Let us not forget Suann’s moment when she tearfully thanked everyone who approached her throughout the week and thanked her for sharing Jay with them all these years.
During my request for personal privilege, I reminded the 1,200 delegates they were representing the other 27,000 NAPS members unable to attend. I asked everyone to allow debate and conversation and not quickly “call for the question” because several very important financial resolutions needed debate to place NAPS on a more solid financial footing moving forward. Thanks to the delegates for allowing the conversation to ensue; it was appreciated.
I’m happy to report that the dues increase—overdue after 19 years—passed, thankfully. However, there were many other resolutions the delegates rejected that would have eliminated expenses and helped our financial bottom line. Instead, the majority of delegates chose to continue to allow non-cost-saving measures to continue.
There is no sense in discussing each failed resolution. However, a unique opportunity presented itself to right the NAPS financial ship, but it wasn’t achieved completely. I predict we will be back to debate cutting expenses again in two to four years. As a reminder, NAPS’ investments went from approximately $15 million about nine years ago to $7 million at the start of this convention. And throughout the current calendar year, our investments have hovered around $6 million.
Here’s why I think we are not on solid financial ground yet. Our primary source of income is membership dues. NAPS doesn’t sell anything to the public to generate additional income. While our investments are earning returns, we no longer are getting bull-market earnings with skyrocket returns. The reason we have a financial issue is we are terrible in membership recruitment as our principal source of income; it is an undisputed fact
NAPS has increased its membership by approximately 7%, with 1,872 new members, for a total of 28,382 members. Currently, there are 20,595 nonmembers (based on available EAS employees), equaling 44% nonmembers. In other words, only 56% of available EAS employees are NAPS members.
Based on approximately 270 NAPS branches, the announced 7% increase—1,872 new members—means each branch only increased its membership by 6.93 new members in FY24; an increase of 0.58 members a month. These are not my numbers, they are NAPS’ numbers.
I’m proud to say New York Area members have signed approximately 367 new members to date in FY24, averaging 33.36 collectively a month, with 17 branches averaging 1.96 monthly—3.5 times the national average. Regardless, I still believe the New York Area is capable of much more.
Jimmy Warden, our highly respected secretary/treasurer, informed the Executive Board in October 2023 during budget conversations that, while motions were passed to reduce costs, membership would have to be approximately 90% (vs. the current 67% membership) along with a dues increase to avoid dipping into the investment portfolio to balance our budget without significant cost reductions.
The many resolutions dealing with difficult choices to reduce costs will come back in a few years to again haunt NAPS. All that was accomplished was delegates kicked the can down the road, applying a band-aid to a gash that needs a surgical procedure to stop the bleeding!
Greater membership requires every branch to increase its membership. There must be a stronger will to achieve this among all branch presidents; otherwise, those resolutions voted down will rise again in two to four years, along with your dues.
Every branch needs to sign three members a month. MM—membership matters.
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