Loading...Campaign Dollars Move Past 60% Mark; Big Finish Expected
Nobody loves a challenge more than the volunteers in the Team Georgia Chamber '06 Membership Campaign. And, with just five weeks remaining until the big Victory Celebration, signaling the end of the 21-week drive, they are tackling a big one.
Big, but very achievable. Since last summer, the 38 corporate teams, consisting of more than 500 volunteers, have been aggressively working to hit their massive dollar goal of $1.7 million. As of this week, they were a solid 62% toward their goal and moving into a time period well known for heroic production.
Watching all the action very closely - and participating in it as well - is Campaign Chairman Dr. David Allen, who is an accomplished new member recruiter himself. Since Day One, the doctor's orders have been to take the Georgia Chamber message to business owners throughout the state and let them know the many benefits of membership. It is, as Dr. Allen has noted, a prescription for good government and fair and equitable treatment of the business community by the legislature.
"Georgia's elected officials want what is best for business, because the health of the business segment is so closely tied to the overall economic health of the state," Allen said recently. "The role of the Georgia Chamber is to advocate legislation that encourages and enables business to grow and prosper. This benefits every citizen of our state," he concluded.
Progress definitely is being made. Week 15 saw strong production from a long list of campaign volunteers, but the leader of the pack was Boyd Pettit, representing the Governmental Affairs team, reporting an impressive $10,500. He was followed by Ronald McGhee (Georgia Power-Coastal Region) with $1,200; Meredith Melvin (Pacesetters) turning in $1,180; Curtis Hart (Georgia Power-Northwest) posting $1,050; and Frank Boyd (Georgia Power Headquarters) with $1,000.
The Top Teams for the week were: Governmental Affairs Council, Wachovia Bank, N.A., Georgia Power-Coastal Region, Georgia Power Headquarters and Pacesetters.
Qualifying began this week for the popular "Day Trip to New York City," which takes place in December. Sponsored by AirTran Airways, this is one of the most popular incentives in the campaign. Every volunteer who sells five new members between Oct. 5th and Nov. 8th will win two spots on the trip, which affords winners with round trip air fare and a long day to sightsee and enjoy the wonders of the Big Apple.
At the same time, volunteers are working hard to hit the requisite numbers that will earn for them two spots on the post-campaign trip to Barbados in January. The bar is set a little higher in order to win the five-day trip, but all agree it is worth the effort.
This year marks the 10th consecutive statewide membership campaign conducted by the Georgia Chamber. All of the preceding drives have hit their goal and no one thinks this one will be any different. "We are sometimes late closers," Dr. Allen commented, "But we always close enough to be victorious." On a more serious note, Dr. Allen pointed to the success the Georgia Chamber has had in recent years getting pro-business legislation passed in the Georgia General Assembly. "It's really a remarkable track record," he said, "one that is well worth the small investment of about a dollar a day for most members."
