Local HBA Membership Retention Rate of 85% Ranks Third-Best Nationally
Nationwide, HBA membership is declining amid the challenging residential construction economy. But locally, retention rates for the HBA of Greater Springfield remain among the best in the country, thanks in large part to the work of the HBA’s membership committee. Year-to-date retention throughout the National Association of Home Builders stands at 66%. But the HBA of Greater Springfield is outperforming that retention average by a whopping 19 percentage points – with a local retention rate of 85% – even in today’s challenging economic circumstances. That’s good for third-best among all HBAs of similar size nationwide.
At the August 5 HBA Membership committee meeting, committee members considered ways build on that success. The committee is evaluating new ways to better stay in touch with the membership on a more regular basis. The committee plans to survey the new members in six month intervals to help evaluate how effectively these new members are engaging in their HBA membership. Membership committee members will then make personal calls to new members to share information about a current member benefit, and to ask if the new member has any questions or concerns.
In other committee business:
- Plans are underway for the September 18 HBA Builder/Remodelor-Only breakfast. Breakfast for the event is provided to any builder member at no charge. RSVP Requested. The program for the event will include a discussion of the current and future lending environment for builders and developers.
- The membership committee is recommending combining the quarterly meetings of the HBA Builders Council with the quarterly “Builders-only” breakfasts. The goal of combining the meetings is to avoid duplication and to use members’ time more efficiently. A regular agenda item at the Builders-only events will be to solicit input on any issues for upcoming I&E agendas. Otherwise, Builders Council would be convened only upon request for special business such as inspection of new construction for the purposes of new membership, etc.
- A list of members who are eligible for renewal, but have not yet renewed their membership, was reviewed by the committee. Committee members will make follow-up phone calls to these members to encourage membership renewal.