What does the Home Office do when a Member does not renew their GWRRA membership? About thirty days after a membership expires, the expiring Member is sent what we call an “exit survey.” The Member is asked to help GWRRA improve by giving their reason or reasons for not renewing. This is a check-box questionnaire that includes the top 10 reasons, but asks if there is anything we can do to get them to renew; would they like to be called, and has space for “additional comments.”
 
These top ten reasons are listed below with abbreviated Home Office responses. Perhaps these suggestions can help Chapter Directors detect the early signs of discontent and take action before the Member gets to the “exit survey” status.
 
Not every Member can be persuaded to rejoin, but the exit survey and follow-up call serves another valuable purpose. We all have experienced poor service, problems with a product or some other problem with a business or organization. Just one person who tries to “make things right” or at least lends a sympathetic ear makes a big difference. The effort to correct the problem may fail, but we leave with a better feeling because we feel someone cared. Let’s get to the specifics. These are the reasons most often given for non-renewal with suggestions for officer response. Some of the reasons like poor health are not debatable, but still afford the opportunity to spread good will by giving the Member a personal farewell.

1. Cost of membership
   • List the benefits of GWRRA. There are many intangible benefits, but some Members feel the Gold Book is worth the price of membership. For a handy and complete list of GWRRA benefits, refer to this PDF of our marketing piece titled “More Than Motorcycles.”
2. Internal politics/cliques
3. Resistance to change/problems with leadership
4. Lack of emphasis on having fun and riding/lack of Chapter activities 
   • Our response to exit surveys that refer to these problems is to let the Member know they can address this with their Chapter Director and can continue to the District, Region and National levels. GWRRA officers are appointed and are chosen because of their track record of positive skills. Let the appointing officer know of the problems.
   • We also remind the Member that they are Members of GWRRA, but can participate in any Chapter. If there are long distances between Chapters, look in the Gold Book to see if there are 10 Members in your area who would like to start a new Chapter.
   • Another potential solution is to suggest the Member volunteer for a staff position. We suggest this is the perfect opportunity to have more influence from within!
5. Lack of acceptance/bike model or brand/single riders
   • This complaint is sadly fairly common. It is impossible to tell if this is an accurate assessment on the Member’s part, but be aware the single rider, non-Gold Wing and older Gold Wing riders often feel less a part of the GWRRA group.
6. Difficulty with attendance/money/time/distance
   
   • We encourage Members to request the Chapter Directors continue to send the monthly newsletter so they can keep the Chapter’s schedule activities handy for when they do have the chance to attend.
   • Look into starting a new Chapter closer to you and others. Consult your District Director and ask if the area report reveals the 10 necessary Members in your area. They may be aware of this need for a new Chapter, and can provide assistance and encouragement.
7. No time to ride/prefer to ride alone/dislike group riding
   • There are many riders who have this independent spirit, but one solution can be a compromise. This type of rider sometimes makes an excellent Ride Coordinator because they are willing and able to ride the route ahead. This “scouting” satisfies some of their wanderlust and ensures the group ride against unexpected pitfalls.
8. Health/special financial considerations
9. Joined another motorcycle association
10. Sold Motorcycle

If you have never taken a moment to reflect on why you would join or why you joined GWRRA, there were certain expectations when you joined. At the same time, those that encouraged you to join made some pretty big claims about GWRRA. Does GWRRA live up to its word? Let's take a look at what GWRRA has described as its Purpose:
 
1) GWRRA is an International Association of Gold Wing and Valkyrie motorcycle riders.
For those that have wondered about GWRRA, it is the largest single model motorcycle organization in the world. It currently has over 70,000 members worldwide. The majority of its members are located in the United States and Canada. However, there are GWRRA Members in over 50 foreign countries.
 
2) GWRRA is a social organization formed for the pleasure, recreation, safety, exchange of information, coordination of common motorcycle, promotion of camaraderie and friendship of its Members and chapters, without political or religious affiliations or influence.
This statement is the essence of GWRRA. GWRRA provides the means for thousands of individuals, from all walks of life, to meet, share information and ideas, provide knowledge regarding the safe operation of a motorcycle and meet some of the most wonderful people in the world. It also gives you the opportunity to develop strong bonds of friendship, laugh and eat a lot, while enjoying one of their treasured hobbies of riding their motorcycle.
 
3) Other purposes include: assisting all motorcyclists in achieving and/or improving public acceptance of motorcyclists; member support of civic, local, police, charity and government organizations; education of non-motorcycling public concerning motorcycling problems; dissemination of safety information relating to motorcycling and motorcyclists; supporting the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF); being a family oriented organization.
This statement truly describes the typical GWRRA Chapter. We try to ride in a responsible manner to show that we deserve respect on the highways and by-ways along with all other vehicles. Most Chapters have adopted a cause to support. Some have chosen to support charities; others support law enforcement agencies; still others support social concerns, such as the elderly. No matter what the cause, we, as an organization, are demonstrating that we are responsible citizens and are interested in the welfare of our community. GWRRA is a major supporter of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and a leader amongst motorcycle organizations in its efforts to promote safety for its Members. This is accomplished through the Rider Education Program and its officers. One of the more endearing sides of GWRRA is that the entire family is welcome to participate in its activities. It is always a pleasure to have children at our functions. It instills in them the idea that motorcyclists are responsible, fun loving people; and, there is a lot of enjoyment in riding safely. These are characteristics we hope they will embrace and carry with them as they become adults.
 
4) Promoting and enlarging the Association's Membership. With as much fun as we have, why would we not want to share it with others! GWRRA understands that the key to a successful organization is providing enjoyable motorcycling activities topped off with a huge amount of fun and laughs.
GWRRA feels that it offers such an enticing package of friends and activities; it welcomes any motorcycle enthusiast to join us and share in the pleasure and enjoyment of our favorite hobby. AS most of you know, GWRRA does not advertise. It lets its Members do the talking for them; and, what a job they have done! By talking to their friends and other motorcyclists they have met, the Members have built a network of motorcyclist that will be hard to surpass.
 
5) To publish and distribute Wing World and other media that will inform, entertain, educated and enlighten our Members and officers.
Wing World - what more could you ask for! Interesting articles, free classified ads, listings of GWRRA activities, and best of all ads for chrome and all kinds of goodies for your bike!! It is always interesting to read about rides others have taken and other Chapter's activities. But, it is heartwarming to read stories of how supportive our Members are when others are in need. If anyone ever wants to know where the heart of America is, just let them look to the Members of GWRRA.