Patuxent River Sail & Power Squadron, Chartered 1953, D5

St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks has been very supportive to our needs not only advertising our Boating Courses in the County Government Program Guide but supplies a building site to hold the course.

We use the "Looking Ahead" and "What's Happening" columns of local newspapers. There is no cost for this service and we can use e-mail to provide the necessary information. We also use the "What's Happening" column for publishing our monthly Squadron meeting schedule. The Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative has an "Around Town" page that we have found to be a very good PR tool but it needs 90 day advance planning. The Chesapeake Bay Magazine also lists our classes in the Cruiser's Calendar. This also requires 90 day's lead time and can be e-mailed.

The local Optimists Club sponsors a small boat show each year and we staff a booth and use this opportunity to offer a free "Bucket of Safety" and Boatsmart classes as door prizes. These are staged as a raffle and we have a space on the ticket asking if the person is interested in taking a boating safety course. This gives us a list of potential students. They are called by a member letting them know when the next class is scheduled in their area. Flyers denoting future class dates are handed out during the show too. We also support the Maryland Department of Natural Resources by distributing boating-related pamphlets and promotional items such as pencils, stickers, coloring books, etc.

In the spring during Solomons Island's Open House, High Tide Marine (owned by one of our members) allows the Squadron to set up a table promoting Safe Boating. This is on a much smaller scale than the boat show but gives us some community contact.

During 1998 we conducted eight classes. Two were the Boating Course. We registered 90, examined 86 and passed 86. Six Boatsmart classes were conducted. We registered 144, examined 116 and passed 115. Totals for the year were 234 registered, 202 examined and 201 passed. In past years we offered have five to eight courses per year. There has been a marked increase in class interest since the PWC's have become popular.

We try to have eight or more Squadron members attend class as proctors. The Squadron Commander gives a welcome presentation with an overview of USPS to the class. The next to last class we have promotional booklets available to the students. At the last class session, members are available to answer questions and initiate the membership process with any interested persons. A list of potential new members is developed from class participants that show any sign of interest and follow-up calls are made.

I really think the desire for more knowledge and personal contact with potential members is a deciding factor. Members that are standoffish and show cliquish tendencies are a real put off to potential members. Put yourself in their shoes, would you join a group and get involved if you didn't feel comfortable?

Cdr Barbara Walter, P
Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron

Note: Thank you for sharing your success in recruiting new members.
National Membership Committee