M I N U T E S

Attendance:
Michael S. Della Rocca, Jeffrey E. Levine; Co-Chairmen, Richard T. Anderson, Ron Berger, John Burke, Harvey Cohen, Donald J. Dzinski, William Fischer, Robert Friedel, Joseph D. Goldreich, Jim Hirani, John Kovacs, Stephanie Pinson, Rose Reichman, Timothy Steinhilber.

Guests: Bud Perrone, Rubenstein Associates

Staff: Robert Chapman, Cathy A. DelliCarpini-Kruse, Gini Shoykhet,

Co-Chairmen Jeffrey E. Levine and Michael S. Della Rocca opened the meeting by welcoming members and guests. Mr. Della Rocca asked for and received approval of the minutes of the Membership Committee meeting of September 9, 2004.

Membership Update
Mr. Della Rocca summarized the latest membership report noting that we ended the year 2003 nearly $18,000 above budget; having received $847,900 in dues revenue against our 2003 budget of $830,000. In addition, 39 new members joined the Building Congress in 2003. He noted 2004 is off to an excellent start with $520,750 in dues revenue received thus far, against our 2004 budget of $830,000. This is more than $35,000 ahead of what was collected at the end of February, 2003. The first reminder letter and duplicate invoice mailing will be sent in early March. To date, 9 new members have joined the Building Congress, which is one more than last year at this time. Our goal for 2004 is, once again, 50 new members.

New Member Recruitment Discussion
Mr. Della Rocca and Mr. Levine led a discussion of the importance of membership recruitment noting that, for both dues collection and adding new members, it is important to be as aggressive as possible early in the year when current or prospective members perceive the most benefit for their investment. Both tasks become more difficult as the year goes on.

For recruitment efforts, Mr. Della Rocca noted, it is especially important to have the support and active involvement of Committee members. This is considered one of their primary responsibilities. He emphasized that committee membership means members take responsibility for helping the Building Congress reach its recruitment goals.

Last year’s emphasis on mass mailings to industry lists yielded little in the way of new memberships. Consequently, efforts in 2004 will shift to capitalizing on the attractiveness of Building Congress events and the networks of existing members. Building Congress staff, especially Gini Shoykhet, Membership & Events Manager, will be regularly asking Committee members to recommend prospects and help greet non-members who attend upcoming events. In addition, plans are underway to make the next Construction Industry Forum featuring architect Santiago Calatrava, designer of the Permanent PATH station in Lower Manhattan, a Membership Recruitment event as well.

In discussion, members made several suggestions to promote Building Congress membership and secure memberships from prospects attending events. Suggestions included:

1. establishing a non-member registration/welcome area at upcoming events;
2. identifying Committee members and prospects at upcoming events;
3. emphasizing guest attendance on event registration forms;
4. instituting a recruitment competition among Committee members;
5. notifying Committee in advance by e-mail of non-members attending an event;
6. reserving seating for prospects together with Committee members at events and/or filling up empty seats at reserved tables with prospects;
7. publicizing events on other association websites offering attendance at member price;
8. inviting guests to a attend a Building Congress committee meeting of interest; and
9. circulating regularly a list of prospect firms to committee members.

Members agreed that people are motivated to join the Building Congress because someone they respect and/or someone who does business with them encourages them to do so. A key benefit and an attraction for prospects is access to more business.

Communications Discussion
Bud Perrone, Building Congress account executive from Rubenstein Associates, reported on continuing publications, issues management, media relations and event promotion activities. Mr. Perrone noted that the Building Congress will be soon publshing several important publications including: the 2004 Annual Report, which will focus on women in the industry; a report on public capital spending in the City which will total, for the first time, all spending by local, State and Federal entities; and, an updated Construction Outlook forecasting construction spending through 2006. He reported that dissemination of these and other upcoming publications helps to continue and expand the Building Congress reputation for important leadership on economic development and building issues.

In a discussion that followed, members suggested: enhancing the readability of the capital spending report by reducing the text; touting the accuracy of previous Construction Outlooks in the upcoming issue; and cooperating further with other industry organizations on publications.

In a brief discussion of Construction Industry Forum topics, suggestions were made for events on: the Jets and Nets stadium projects; on New York and New Jersey school construction; and a review of work related to the upcoming Republican convention.

Ms. Shoykhet reviewed the publication and dissemination of the new (e)Update newsletters noting that the readership rate for the first 2 issues is high and that efforts continue to expand the circulation. Mr. Levine requested she ensure all Committee members receive the newsletter.

Adjournment
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:

Cathy A. DelliCarpini-Kruse
Senior Vice President
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