Survey of Inactive P.E.O.s Shines Light on Pressing Issues

Every spring each local P.E.O. chapter prepares an Annual Report of Membership. These reports are sent to the state, provincial or district chapter and then to the headquarters in Des Moines, where the numbers are tabulated. This gives us a good picture of our sisterhood in terms of increases and decreases in membership. We see the numbers of initiates, numbers of those in the chapter who have died, and…numbers of those members who have gone inactive.

Our numbers in 2008, showing the activity from March 2007 through February of 2008 sent us a message. They tell us that we have 5,959 chapters in the United States and Canada! Wow! We have 245,199 active members in those chapters. Double wow! Of those members 8,580 were new initiates! This is GREAT! We love initiating new members!

But…there is another set of numbers, and they are NOT so great. In the same reporting year 7,323 P.E.O. members went “inactive.” This means that, including deaths, our active membership did not increase, but rather there was a net decrease.

“Inactive” is the status of any member who does not, for whatever reason, pay her dues before March 1 of a given year. As an inactive member, a woman may not attend meetings or conventions, nor will she receive her copy of The P.E.O. Record.

An inactive member’s name actually stays in the database kept at headquarters. (That’s where the phrase “Once a P.E.O., always a P.E.O.” comes from.) We keep those names on the database because we HOPE that many of our inactives will reactivate their membership, or reinstate, at some point.

Upon seeing these numbers, the immediate question must be WHY? Why did 7,323 of our sisters choose to go inactive? And, more than that….what can we do to reverse this? So…at the direction of the International Executive Board, an individual letter was sent to each and every one of these 7,000+ inactive members. The intent was to let each one know that we had noticed, that she would be missed, and…. what could we do to bring her back? Would she share her reasons for going inactive? We asked, “Are there things P.E.O. could do better? Are there things we need to change to keep a member like you? How can P.E.O. better meet your needs and expectations?”

Arrangements were made for each of these newly inactive members to receive the July-August issue of The P.E.O. Record so that they might see the new directions we are taking to attract more readers and to address more topics. “If you build it, they will come.” In P.E.O., “if you ask them, they will answer.”

The letter invited each recipient to respond with her thoughts as to why she went inactive, and many did so. If you’ve gone to the website to read the membership survey results, you’ll see similarities between those responses and the ones received from members who have gone inactive. Some distinct trends and issues became apparent.

• Reasons For Inactive Members
  
• 30% Procedures & Policies
  • Dimit Procedure
  • Officer Obligations
  • Meeting Requirements
  • Procedures to make Changes
  • Late Dues & Reinstatement Procedure & Fee
• 24% Health
  • Aging
  • Alzheimers
  • Mobility
  • Loss of Hearing
  • Loss of Sight
• 14% Other Obligations/No Time for P.E.O.
• 12% Member Relocated
  • No Follow Up from Local or State Chapter
  • Confusion with Procedures
• 10% Chapter Issues
• 7% Chapters Too Far
• 3% Other Reasons

Aging membership and health issues

Many of the most touching — and saddening — calls, letters and emails came from devoted BILs, mothers, daughters and family members. This comment, from a BIL, is typical of many:

I am answering your letter to my wife. I’m her husband and regret to tell you that she is in an advancing state of Alzheimer’s, so it became impossible for her to remain active in P.E.O. She loved being a P.E.O. for more than 50 years and it was an important part of her life.

From a daughter…

My mother has Alzheimer’s disease. She loved P.E.O. and her sisters with all her heart.

This, from a member….

I am 87 years old and wear two hearing aids, yet have great difficulty hearing. I now live in a retirement village which is 100 blocks south of the chapter meetings. I feel there should be an honorable way for us to say (after 58 years of service.) ‘I have loved my life as a P.E.O. but it is time for me to move on.

P.E.O. policies, structure

My biggest problem with P.E.O. was the number of rules and requirements it had to observe. I often found myself thinking, ‘with all these interesting, intelligent women in the room, why are meetings so boring?’ I would like to see P.E.O. at every level consider the question, How may of our present rules or ‘laws’ could be eliminated without damaging our purpose and character?

The women of my chapter are top notch. I could not ask for better friends and role models and I certainly enjoyed my association with them within P.E.O. The goals of the organization are admirable, and its deep commitment to the well being of women is wonderful. However, I found it difficult to endure the meeting framework with its many rules and archaic procedures. Today, it seems counterproductive to have so much scripted procedure within meeting format.

I am grateful for the Sisterhood. My primary reasons for leaving have to so with the limitations I experienced in the organization. I would like to see P.E.O. stretch and grow more in the direction of being inclusive and innovative. This requires risk-taking and a willingness to be more easily responsive to the changing needs of women. I found the lengthy processes a hindrance to making simple changes that would make P.E.O. more welcoming.

Chapter Issues

I never even received an acknowledgment of my note to go inactive.

I went ‘inactive’ as that was what I was told I had to do (when my dues were late). I remembered and tried to pay on March 6, I was told ‘too late…you are no longer a P.E.O.’ and I would have to start from square one again.

I am frustrated because I was told, when I moved, that my original chapter would notify chapters in my new home town. I waited and waited, but nothing ever came of it.

I moved and was never contacted in almost two years by another chapter to come visit. I thought my name went on a list so other chapters knew who was looking for a chapter to dimit to.

I did not go inactive! I was a few days late paying my dues and my chapter was supposed to take care of this.

I was surprised to receive your letter to me as an inactive member. I moved, but paid my dues to my chapter. When I received your letter I checked with the bank and the check was never cashed. I never received any correspondence from the chapter.

Time and distance constraints; lifestyle changes; financial considerations

I did enjoy being a P.E.O. and definitely plan to become more active late in life. At the moment I am a stay-at-home mom with a small child. If there were a group of new moms and children could come, that would be great for me!

I needed to go inactive for several reasons. My husband has terminal cancer; our finances have taken a real hit; I have several health issues myself. Therefore, my time is limited and I feel that my energies need to be spent here at home.

I simply could not manage the time needed to fulfill my role with P.E.O. and felt the chapter deserved more than I could give.

The nearest chapter for me is a 100 mile round trip — too far for me. Hopefully some day there will be a chapter a bit closer.

These are just snippets from our responses… there are many more, in all categories. But, if we ask the question (and we did, both here and in our membership survey) we must be prepared to hear the answers and act on them. Otherwise, why ask? So, this issue of 7,000 inactives is a challenge to each and every one of us as members and to our leadership on all levels…local chapter, state, provincial, district and International. The International Executive Board has created three special committees this biennium to discuss issues related to membership and streamlining state AND local procedures. Look for their updates in the January-February issue. They hear you…they are listening. In the meantime, as individual members and chapters, what can we do? How can we do it? When can we start?

Here are some things we MUST do and that CAN be done easily.

1. Be SURE to send dues notices to all nonresident members and to all of your members who are not able to participate as often as they would like. Be sure to follow up—tactfully—if dues are not received. Perhaps there is something you can do to help out.
2. Remember the suggestion from International that local chapters consider advancing dues for a member, from the chapter treasury, allowing that member who is sick, overseas, or with another circumstance that is necessitating late payment, to be paid in full and on time, with the understanding that she then will reimburse her chapter.
3. A chapter may have a Standing Rule to pay all or part of the dues for a member who needs assistance.*
4. Keep accurate chapter records; cash checks promptly; record transactions promptly.
5. Use the Form FL when someone moves!
6. Discuss requests from members going inactive; be sure to let them know they will be missed; send them the brochure for inactive members. Remind them that even if they can’t attend meetings, paying dues supports the philanthropic purposes of the organization.
7. Fashion meetings so that they are interesting, educational and worth leaving the house for and staying active!
8. Stay in touch with inactive members. Send them your chapter newsletter. Communicate!
9. Encourage support, socialization among ALL of your members, seeking out those who are new or unable to attend often.
10. Have an elderly member living in an assisted living facility? In a retirement community? Have your meeting there! It will make her feel great to be a part of the chapter as a hostess. Many have wonderful spaces ideal for a meeting.
11. Be sure to have The Wish on file for each of your members. There is a space for them to designate a person to continue paying their dues if they are unable, thereby keeping them active.
12. Purchase a subscription to The P.E.O. Record as a gift to your inactive members who may enjoy receiving it…it’s just $5 a year, and it a wonderful way to let them know you’re thinking of them and want to keep in touch.

* To learn more about creating this Standing Rule, visit the website peointernational.org.