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  • 1.  Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-04-2022 01:03 PM
    Wondering what the general consensus on printed membership cards is. Is the trend to go digital or offer both?

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    Gina Garden
    Marketing Coordinator
    Museum of Nebraska Art
    Kearney NE
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    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 2.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-05-2022 08:53 AM
    We still have paper cards (but membership is low because of our partnership with the National Park Service) but I'm hoping to move to digital and I'm adding that to my strategic plan for 2023-2028.

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    Lauren T. Furey
    Director of Visitor Services
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    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 3.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-05-2022 01:55 PM
    Hi Lauren,

    I hope you are having a lovely day. I'm sorry to hear that membership is low. How does your partnership with the National Park Service affecting your membership? Just curious for my own education. 

    I am glad I came across your comment. Hopefully you add an exception in your strategic plan for those members who appreciate a physical membership card.  Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out. | Museum Junction Open Forum (aam-us.org)

    I work as a Sales and Marketing Coordinator at International Plastic Cards, Inc. IPC specializes in customized membership program packets for museums, zoos, and other organizations with membership programs. If you are interested in connecting, I would love the opportunity to see how IPC can help you improve your own membership program. 

    Kindest regards,

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    Hilda Gonzalez-Franco
    Sales & Marketing Coordinator
    International Plastic Cards
    Gardena CA
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    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 4.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-05-2022 01:33 PM
    Hi Gina,

    I hope you are having a wonderful experience in the AAM forum community. You and I have been having the same thought. I found that the general consensus is to offer both. A lot of people prefer having a physical membership card, especially when they come in special customized welcome packets. They also like the backup digital access to their benefit information online. Having both is a perfect combination of membership benefit access. 

    Is the Museum of Nebraska Art looking into rewarding their members with benefit cards and packets? I would love to connect with you and learn more about your membership program. If you are interested in a light read here is my own forum post on the same topic: Digital v. Physical: What are the benefits of a plastic membership card in a digital environment? Read on to find out. | Museum Junction Open Forum (aam-us.org)

    Best wishes!

    ------------------------------
    Hilda Gonzalez-Franco
    Sales & Marketing Coordinator
    International Plastic Cards
    Gardena CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 5.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-08-2022 11:36 AM

    Gina,

    Three years ago, we switched to digital membership cards only. We no longer print out cards.

    This was done to be in alignment with our Lead Certification and trying to be greener. It helped to eliminate printing out new cards when members lost or misplaced them.

    We still get a few members that want an actual card, we email them a copy of their card for them to print at home.

     

     

    Karen Lee Parmelee

     

    Karen Lee Parmelee

    Membership Associate

    Grounds For Sculpture

    80 Sculptors Way

    Hamilton, NJ 08619

     

    kparmelee@groundsforsculpture.org

    609-249-0225

     

    Roberto Lugo: The Village Potter + Fragile: Earth on view May 22, 2022 – January 8, 2023

     

     

     

     




    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 6.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-09-2022 09:19 AM
    Hi Karen,

    Can you share any technically-oriented details about your digital membership cards? 

    Specifically:
    - What technology do members need in order to carry and present/display their digital card? Any special software or Apps required?
    - Do you use or need any special technology at entry to "accept" the digital cards for entry?
    - When you email members "a copy of their card to print at home" what are you emailing? For example is it a PDF file?

    Thanks for sharing your experience.

    Brian

    ____________________
     Brian J. Mattlin




    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 7.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-09-2022 03:06 PM

    Hi Brian,

    Our members need a smart phone to access the eMembership app, they then enter their last name and phone number (which we have on file in our database) to access their card and guest passes. The membership card in the app has a barcode just like when we printed out membership cards and that is scanned. Only a small percentage of our members do not have a smart phone, if they request a card be sent, we will take a screen shot of their card and send it to them via email. Before we switched to digital cards we had numerous calls per week of members losing their cards or guest passes, this has eliminated that.

     

    The eMembership app is linked to our data base so when we make changes to someone's record it updates on the app immediately.

     

    We can also send notifications through the app as well.

     

     

     

    Karen Lee Parmelee

     

    Karen Lee Parmelee

    Membership Associate

    Grounds For Sculpture

    80 Sculptors Way

    Hamilton, NJ 08619

     

    kparmelee@groundsforsculpture.org

    609-249-0225

     

    Roberto Lugo: The Village Potter + Fragile: Earth on view May 22, 2022 – January 8, 2023

     

     

     

     




    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 8.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-09-2022 04:33 PM
    Hi Karen - thanks for getting right back to me!

    So you're using the eMembership digital card system from Museum Anywhere, which means members also do need to download MA's app (though I see they offer a non-App alternative via a digital wallet). The App looks, from their website, and sounds, from your description, pretty robust in terms of features and functions.

    I gather from your original post that you have a high adoption rate. Has that taken the three years since launch to get there, or did you have good uptake from the getgo? I'm intrigued, because I see from your website that members also need to present a valid ID alongside the digital card, for entry. Which means that even with the digital card, they are still pulling a physical card out of their physical wallet to get in. So not necessarily more convenient for them, although I definitely see how it has streamlined your internal operations, and helped meet your LEED certification goals.

    Thanks,
    Brian
    ____________________
     Brian J. Mattlin
     917.797.3619



    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 9.  RE: Printed Membership Cards

    Posted 08-11-2022 01:54 PM

    Hi Brian,

    It took a lot of work on my Directors part to roll out the digital cards, however, there was not another option, we were no longer printing cards. For the most part members were on board. I don't think the showing of an id card is asking too much. We need to make sure that the person visiting is the member. It does help the member no longer lose their membership cards and/or guest passes. In the past if they lost a guest pass, we did not replace them. Now they can't lose them because they are on the app.

    Have a great day!

    Karen Lee Parmelee

     

    Karen Lee Parmelee

    Membership Associate

    Grounds For Sculpture

    80 Sculptors Way

    Hamilton, NJ 08619

     

    kparmelee@groundsforsculpture.org

    609-249-0225

     

     

     Roberto Lugo: The Village Potter + Fragile: Earth on view May 22, 2022 – January 8, 2023

     

     

     

    image001.png

     




    Original Message
    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


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