MCCDA Membership Appreciation Efforts

Over the past several weeks the MCCDA eboard has been gathering information from the membership regarding the annual picnic and efforts to show appreciation to the membership.

Here are the suggestions we have received (in no particular order or significance):

• Do away with the picnic (too great of an expense at this time)

• Do away with the picnic (not enough of the membership attends)

• Do away with the picnic (no other explanation)

• Have a BBQ at a place like Blue Lake Park that doesn’t cost nearly as much.

• Cater a meal for each shift (that way people that TX or can’t get off work benefit)

• Cut out the prizes all together

• Cut out all the gift cards

• Don’t give away a TV

• Have one or two big prizes that everyone is eligible for

• Have a handful of medium value prizes that everyone is eligible for.

• Have the prize drawings on line (not at any one event)

• Do nothing this year, re-evaluate next year based on finances.

• Whatever is done should be inclusive of all shifts members.

It was clear, based on your input, that the large membership picnic we have held for the past several years is not what the majority of the membership is wanting at this time. The level of MOTs, and inability of the majority of the membership to participate and enjoy such a gathering were primary reasons given to us for this sentiment.

Based on your feedback, the eboard will be sending out a vote in near future to determine this years membership appreciation efforts. The vote will be on three key areas that the majority of the people providing feedback focused. These key areas represent the three key areas that we received the majority of feedback on. We have set a budgetary ceiling on each of the options so that even if all the options are approved by a majority vote there would be a significant savings of at least $12,000 from last year’s expenditures related to the picnic.

1. Does the membership approve a BBQ, to be held at a county or state park, which would serve a basic menu (like hot dogs and hamburgers, etc), but would provide an opportunity to gather with families? The budget if approved would be up to $5,000.

2. Does the membership approve providing a catered meal to each shift and facility (special assignments would be included into the facility/shift nearest their assignment)? If approved the budget for all of the catered meals would be up to $15,000.

3. Does the membership approve the purchase of prizes for raffle drawing? The Prizes will be in two categories, which each member will be entered to win and be eligible for. One category will be for a major prize (such as a smoker grill or equivalent significance), and one category will be for prizes of moderate significance (such as a gaming console, GoPro, or Beats headphones). If approved, the budget for all of the prizes will be $5,000.

The membership will be able to vote to approve each of these options separately, as ala carte options, based on a majority vote.