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19 February 2002 USSVI was organized in 1965 and membership lingered about 2000 for several years. In the six past years or so, membership has risen to near 9000 by the end of 2001. The Executive Board determined that it was impossible for one volunteer to maintain an accurate membership database and do all the other tasks to support a growing membership. At the Mid Term Executive Board meeting in Peoria, the proposal for a USSVI office staffed by volunteers was adopted. The office has been in commission about 18 months in a small 187 SF office in Silverdale,WA that is equipped with a phone, 2 PC systems and a copier. The office is physically located within a few miles of the Bangor Submarine Base. The functions of the Office includes providing assistance in all membership matters to support the National Officers, such as Welcome Aboard packages to new members, manufacture cards for Holland Club and Life memberships, mail application brochures to prospective members, process base Monthly Control Reports, maintains the membership database,assisting the National Treasurer in the collection of dues, man a 800 line for recruiting and handle a myriad of administrative duties. There are presently eight volunteers led by a part time paid manager, Fred Borgmann. Volunteers have varied PC experience ranging from none to highly experienced in the use of database software programs. They are being trained even as we recruit new volunteers. The Bremerton Base supplies the majority of volunteers and the Seattle Base assists with the preparation and mailing of the Welcome Aboard packages. The NATIONAL OFFICE is the ADMIN SUPPORT arm of the Board for the USSVI. There has been an increase of nearly 2000 new members since the Office came on line in May 2000 |