Promoting value and good business practice

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About Us...

This section of the website will provide you with all the information you need to understand what the MemberWise Network is and how it can help your membership organisation save serious time and money, and generate increased value.
 
  • Our background & a brief introduction
  • Our mission statement
  • Our objectives
  • Our history
  • Other information...

 

My name is Richard Gott and I am the Membership Project Manager at the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA).
 
I have worked for a wide variety of organisations over the past ten years, including the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA), British Dental Association (BDA) and the College of Optometrists. I am a PARN Steering Group member and an active UK Inter-Professional Working Group (UKIPG) CPD Forum Member.
 
Good business practice
I believe whole-heartedly in the concept of learning from other organisations (benchmarking) and the idea that we (membership and donor-based organisations) should constantly strive to increase value for our members, donors, and other stakeholders.
 
My experience to date has shown me that exemplary good business practice currently takes place in a large number of 'closed internal and external pockets' (i.e. within isolated departments or organisations) with limited or no dissemination.
 
Possible reasons:
 

- Internal cultural issues

- Low levels of general sharing of information/advice internally

- Worry about discovering & highlighting individual/organisational inadequacies
- ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ attitude
- Sector culture
- Geography
- Limited number of organisations/resources facilitating such activity
 
I believe the dissemination of good practice advice should take place on a much wider scale within the sector, both in the UK and throughout the world. 
 
MemberWise was created in an attempt to 'open up' the internal and external pockets and supply membership and donor-based charitable organisations with quality good practice information and advice.
 
Product/Supplier Offers and Discounts
We all have to source quality product and service providers to enable our organisations to both function, expand and increase value proposition. With limited budgets at our disposal it is important to spend the money wisely.
 
I have worked with some brilliant suppliers over the years, and equally I have worked with some 'not so' brilliant suppliers. I believe it is time for the 'good guys' to be promoted to the sector, so on this website you will not only find an exhaustive directory of suppliers but I have gone one step further and have negotiated preferential deals and discounts to help you increase value. 
 
The higher the number of subscibers, the better the deals and discounts we will be able negotiate.
 
I therefore hope the website is of use to you and your organisation, and if you have any constructive feedback or recommendations please feel free to submit them to me:
 
Tel: 020 7223 2450
 
Richard Gott
Founder, The MemberWise Network
Our Mission Statement

MemberWise is dedicated to promoting value & good business practice advice to membership and other Not-For-Profit (NFP) organisations.

 

Our Objectives

To promote:

 

- Information relating to reputable product & service providers

- Negotiate deals, discounts and preferential deals with suppliers

- Good business practice inforrmation & advice to membership organisations

 

Thus enabling:

 

- Increased internal efficiency & effectiveness

- Enhanced value proposition to aid recruitment
- Improved membership retention levels
- Increased member/donor recruitment potential 

 
Our History
Memberwise consists of a network of membership organisation professionals that share good practice knowledge and recommendations relating to reputable product/service providers. The network was set-up in March 2007 and has grown exponentially.
 
If you would like to join the management network please express an interest via our online form located within the Contact Us section of the website.
 
Overview of our activity in 2008
In 2008 we came a long way. In less than four months we attracted over 170 membership organisation subscribers and negotiated preferential deals and discounts with over 40 featured suppliers. This has resulted in the website saving membership organisations approximately £80,000 to-date.

 

Overview of activity in 2009
In 2009 we concentrated on disseminating good practice information and advice via a number of function-specific presentations at the 2009 Association Congress, CHASE 2009, MEMBERS 2009 and at the Science Council. These presentations can be found throughout the site and on our Homepage. We welcomed 400 membership organisation subscribers and 70 new sector suppliers.
 
Overview of planned activity in 2010
In 2010 we plan to step things up a gear. We now have over 600 subscribing membeship organisations and it is time to get 'good practice' out there. We plan to overhaul our regular e-newsletter (MW) and concentrate on key-topics including 'money-saving during times of economic downturn' and improving the membership function.
 

MemberWise will continue to be free-to-access and revenue generated from the supplier directory will continue to funded via supplier referrals.

 

The MemberWise Concept

This PowerPoint presentation was delivered at the 2008 MEMBERS Exhibition. It outlines the concept, rationale and research behind the concept. Click Here

 

MemberWise Brochure

This short brochure gives an overview of MemberWise concept and is used to promote the website. Please feel free to copy and distribute to colleagues - The more people we get on board the better! Click Here