PSC has approximately 3,000 members and this represents a 78% increase in four years! This phenomenal growth has made it clear that we need to automate our Membership renewal process to a much greater degree, and this will require our Members’ cooperation.

We have researched various methods to increase efficiency and have developed a program that involves outsourcing the printing and mailing of Member Badges. This will reduce costs while greatly reducing the workload on the PSC Membership Director. While workload will be reduced, it will not be eliminated as there is a lot to accomplish before the file can be sent to the printer. We cannot do this without your help!

. . . it will be necessary to show proof that your [NRA] membership will not expire during the PSC Membership Year – i.e. between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.

The two biggest problems experienced in the renewal process are 1) getting updated mailing addresses; and 2) confirming NRA Membership status. There is where you can help. Please go to the Forms menu and fill out the Member Update form, if any of your information has changed, especially your address and your NRA Membership information. The new website provides you the capability to upload scanned documents, so you can simply scan your NRA Membership Card or the label from your NRA magazine. If any other information has changed, please fill in those items as well.

Every year we have a few dozen people send us copies of the promotional membership cards the NRA sends out to people to encourage them to join. Trust us folks, we know the difference between those promotional cards and the “real thing,” so sending a promotional card won’t get you a PSC Member Badge. Thankfully, only a few people make the attempt and with the need to limit membership growth, trying to pass phony cards just might cost someone their Membership. PSC is a 100% NRA Club and we will protect that integrity of that status. 

Renewing online and renewing early are also helpful in making sure you don’t suffer a delay in getting your new Member Badge.

While on the subject of NRA Membership, beginning with the 2012-2013 renewal/membership year, it will not only be necessary to provide proof of NRA Membership, it will be necessary to show proof that your membership will not expire during the PSC Membership Year – i.e. between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Trying to track mid-year expirations is a daunting task that simply cannot be done with our membership level.  So be sure to renewal your NRA Membership if necessary, before uploading your proof of Membership. To avoid any confusion, if PSC Membership records show that your NRA Membership will expire prior to June 30, 2013, you will not receive a new PSC Member Badge for the 2012-2013 membership year.

Renewing online rather than waiting for an invoice will be a tremendous help! Obviously, the fewer renewal invoices that have to be mailed, the lower the workload and the cost. Renewing online and renewing early are also helpful in making sure you don’t suffer a delay in getting your new Member Badge. We always have a percentage of our Members’ Badges get lost in the mail and the longer you wait to renew, the greater the chance you will not have your card when the access code changes and your "smart card" is deactivated for the new membership year. This delay could be even longer since we are outsourcing the printing and mailing of badges, so please renew early.

Please check the PSC website to see when Membership renewals will open for the 2012-2013 membership year. We will also send an email blast to everyone signed up to receive PSC emails and eNewsletters, so you are strongly encouraged to register for emails if you have not already done so. It’s easy to do, just look on the front page of the PSC website.