Membership

ANNUAL REPORT

As of 12/1/20, we have 423 members, a decrease of 3 members from the same time last year. Considering that 2020 was no ordinary year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is remarkable that the decrease wasn’t much higher.

A more telling number is that there were486 members as of 3/1/20, just over a week before the lockdown occurred.

The lockdown resulted in the loss of the vast majority of sources for membership renewal and growth (i.e., Troubadour, Getaway, Open Stage, Special Concerts, Member Shows, Swingin' Tern, UkeFest, Evenings of Music, etc.). The primary sources this year were Membership Renewal Letters, the Newsletter, and the Acoustic Stayaway (concerts, workshops, and Folk Project TV).

I am optimistic that memberships will slowly increase as The Folk Project begins to ramp live events back up in 2021.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Pratt

Membership chair

MONTHLY REPORT

Folk Project board members,

As of 12/1/20, we have 279 memberships consisting of 423 people, an increase of 5 memberships and an increase of 7 people compared to November 2020.

With the Covid-19 situation, new and renewed membership activity continues to be diminished. Some of this may be affected by job loss, financial hardship or family illness.

Contributing factors for this month's activity:

• • Membership Renewal Letters are sent out monthly to members whose memberships lapsed last month or will lapse this month or next month.

  • No new or renewed memberships from Troubadour or other venues.

  • Membership links are included in all Acoustic Stayaway Concert emails and concert chats. There has resulted in a steady increase in new memberships.

• Membership links will be posted to The Folk Project (NJ) and The Folk Project group Facebook pages.

Rosters in PDF and Excel formats are attached to this message. Please note: rosters include active members and lapsed members within last year.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Pratt

Membership chair

The Folk Project