1999 Membership Committee Report

The Membership Committee developed several new initiatives for encouraging additional involvement in AFS. The first is a Mentorship Program, designed to pair students or entry-level biologists with more experienced professionals. An integral part of the Mentorship Program includes encouragement of AFS activity. The second initiative is a Sponsorship Program where current members pay the dues of students or new biologists as a way to expose them to AFS participation and hopefully get them excited about the benefits of future AFS membership. This has the added feature of providing additional income to the Society. It is anticipated that implementation of these programs would be most effective at the Chapter level. Outlines of both programs are posted on the web site and were distributed by e-mail to every WDAFS Chapter president and membership Chair.

Because potential Membership Sponsors may need additional incentive to pay dues for their sponsored members, the Membership Committee also drafted a letter to AFS Director Gus Rassam and President Christine Moffitt, to tell them of the new Sponsorship Program and request consideration of a special, one-time AFS dues level for "sponsored" memberships. See the announcements on the WDAFS website or in the Tributary for more information.

Questions about these activities can be directed to: