ASME Recruitment and Retainment Kit

Begin by downloading your section lists
If you are a Section Chair and you do not already have access to your Section's roster, please contact unitsupport@asme.org for information on how to get access.

Recruit Effectively Face-to-Face.  It’s Easier than You Think!
Not comfortable with sales?  Few people are . . . but the truth is that every day you unconsciously persuade people (colleagues, bosses, and family) to do what you want them to do.  You sell your perspective or idea by showing what’s in it for them.
It’s easy to apply the same principles and persuasion techniques you have already mastered to talk about ASME membership.  Here’s how . . .

Follow These Seven Simple Steps for Recruitment Success:

1. Be prepared.  A downloadable membership application is available at http://www.asme.org/Membership/Join/

2. Take advantage of a wealth of information on benefits Have on hand current and accurate information about member benefits and local events available at http://www.asme.org/Membership/Benefits

3. Reflect on the primary reason you first joined, and why you continue your membership.  A personal anecdote, relating how ASME has helped you, is often most compelling.  You know the value of membership – the challenge is to communicate it to your fellow engineers. 

4. Listen to colleagues – uncover the need.  Once you’ve determined your fellow engineers’ needs, tailor your message to address those needs, showing specifically how ASME can help.

5. Be enthusiastic, and don’t let objections throw you.  Objections – particularly  “I don’t have the time” or “I don’t have the money” – are a natural part of the sale. Objections are often a request for more information, or may give your member prospect a pause, a chance to think through the idea of joining.

One of the best ways to deal with objections is the “feel, felt, found” method.  For example, if someone tells you that membership is too expensive, you can reply, “I know how you feel and know how hard we have to work these days to make every dollar count.  Others felt that way, until they found that membership paid for itself – from discounts on conferences and courses to the invaluable networking opportunities.  Give it your own personal touch.

6. Follow up with your prospect.  Generally you have to reinforce and reiterate the reasons for joining ASME at least once.

7. Practice these steps and don’t get discouraged.  You are helping your colleagues, ASME and the engineering profession by getting the word out there, just as your work as an ASME member helps the Society and your profession.

Sample Welcome Letter or Email
Dear ____:
Welcome to the ______ section of ASME.  We’re happy to have you as a member, and look forward to meeting you soon.

In addition to the benefits you receive as a member on the international level, there are several local activities in which you may be interested.  Our events include plant tours, lectures, professional development courses, Engineer Week activities, and social gatherings each year.  Attached is a copy of our latest newsletter with details.

Our next gathering is _______.  I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

PS:  If you have any questions regarding our local ASME activities, please don’t hesitate calling me at ____ or drop me an email at _____. 

Sample Phone Script to Welcome YE’s to Your Section
A phone script must be conversational to work.  The script below provides structure to guide you through the process, and give you an idea of what this kind of call sounds like.

Good morning/afternoon/evening: May I speak to John Doe?

John, this is Frank Smith, from your local ASME section.  I just called to welcome you to the ____ section, and see how things are going.  Do you have a few minutes?

Are you new to this area?  How do you like it?  Are you finding everything you need?
You work at XYZ firm, I see.  What do they have you working on there?  Some of our other members work there, too.  Have you met_____ yet?

If there is any way I can help you, with work, or with finding things in the area, just let me know.  I can be reached at _______, email:  

I’m also sending you a notice about our next event.  It’s a _______ at _____.
You can also check our local web page at ________ for details of what we’re planning. 

It’s been nice talking to you.  I’ll check back with you in a few weeks to see how things are going.  I hope to meet you soon at one of our events.

Sample Retention Letter
Dear Member,
I am concerned that we have not received your ASME membership renewal.

As a member, you have the opportunity to interact with others having the same goals and interests.  There are many benefits even for those who can’t attend Society activities, such as insurance programs, asme.org, jobs database, online professional development programs, and much more.  There is also the satisfaction of belonging to a Society whose members are working for the betterment of the profession at every level around the world.

If you would like more details on our local programs, please call me at __________or email me at _____________. 

Don’t let your membership lapse.  To renew your membership today, call Information Central at 1-800-THE-ASME or renew on-line at https://members.asme.org/catalog/RenewalInformation.cfm

Sincerely,

PS: If you have already renewed, please disregard this letter.

Sample Retention Email

Subject line: A message from your ASME section chair

Dear Member:

You need ASME to help you keep up with all the latest technology and engineering news – and ASME needs you to support its programs to educate students in engineering, advise the government on technical issues and maintain the lead in writing the Codes and Standards that keep everyone safe.  These activities are only a small part the ASME’s activities on behalf of engineers everywhere. 

You can keep your career on track and support the mechanical engineering profession simply by renewing your membership today.

To renew your membership, call Information Central at 1-800-THE-ASME or renew on-line at https://members.asme.org/catalog/RenewalInformation.cfm

Sincerely,

PS: If you have any questions about our local ASME activities, please call ______ or email me at _________.

Sample Dropped Member Phone Script

Hi, is this _____?  This is _______ , the chair of your local ASME section. 

I’m calling today because I see that you haven’t yet renewed your ASME membership.   I hope it’s just an oversight on your part, because we need members like you to keep our section going strong. 

Perhaps you’re not aware of all the benefits you gain by being a member – technical information, the ASME career center, and ME magazine, just to name a few.  It’s a good investment in your career – just the local networking opportunities alone make it worthwhile.  

Possible replies

If the answer is yes: I’ll send it in immediately

You can renew online at www.asme.org or by calling ASME toll free number at 800-843-2763.  Thank you – and I look forward to seeing you at our next event.

If answer is that they are unemployed
Are you aware that your dues can be waived for a year, if you request it?  That way you can still get the benefits while you are searching for a new position.  To request the dues waiver, simply email the ASME membership department at beckj@asme.org and explain your situation.  They will contact you from there.   I’m glad that you decided to renew – and I look forward to seeing you at our next event.

If answer is:  I’m still not interested.

May I ask why you decided not to renew? 

I’m sorry that you feel that way.  I know other members of our section that felt that way until they found that the benefits really helped them in their work.
If you like, I can send you the next few section newsletters so that you can see what we’re up to locally. 

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to speak with me today, and I hope that you will reconsider membership at some point. 

(Collect answers and let the membership department know why members are not renewing.  Please email responses to gormanr@asme.org)

Update your local email list
Dear ____:
In order to get local ASME news to you in a timely manner and to save the section some money, our local newsletters are now being sent out via email.  I ask you to send me your email address so that we can add you to our email subscribers list.  If you do not have internet access, please call me at _________, so that we may continue to send you a mailed copy of the newsletter.

To update your email address, go online to your ASME record, at https://www.asmeny.org/memberaddr/html/security.htm

Our next gathering is _______.  I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

PS:  If you have any questions regarding our local ASME activities, please don’t hesitate to call me .