When I think back to when I joined NSA, I remember that I was looking for people with a like mind. I found some friends in NSA. I had fun with those friends.
The fun of NSA extended from the professional arena to the personal one. Many of the people I met at my first convention are still my friends. Friends that I can count on in a pinch.
These friends are there if I have a professional question. I can get answers quickly to my professional challenges. I can get answers on financial and tax accounting with an email or a phone call.
Sometimes you need a sounding board. Getting a second opinion on your interpretation of all the rules and procedures that we perform daily is not only valuable but necessary. Sometimes when you read the books and articles you need to know what it all means in an understandable and clear manner. My NSA friends can and do help in this area.
When my NSA friends get together we have fun. We go out and eat together. We share war stories together. We share our frustrations and our triumphs.
The only way that NSA is going to retain members, from my point of view, is if we the members make friends of these new NSA members. We must make ourselves available to answer questions, to advise, to share those frustrations and triumphs.
Making friends takes time and effort. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Spend the time and get to know the new members. Give them your card and say, "If you need anything--anything at all--please call or email me. I will get back to you immediately."
Have a drink with them. Share a meal with them. Share a joke or a war story. Most importantly offer to help them with problems and challenges.
The member retention of new members depends on us "old" members extending the hand of friendship.