In doing research for this month’s post, I came across this article title…

Actually to be fair, the original article that was posted on the Guardian’s website was titled “German nudist groups see memberships shrink”, but being a notorious sight-reader, you can see how it took me a bit off my guard.

Either way that you slice it, both titles are just plain WRONG, on so many levels.

So, consider yourself a bit cheeky just for reading this far and guessing where I’m headed with this month’s post.

Now, I have to admit that I never finished reading the full article, which can be found here on the Guardian’s website for the curious: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/22/german-nudist-groups-memberships-shrink

However regretfully, I made it as far as the interview with the young electro mechanic talking about visiting NUDIST COLONIES WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS when suddenly I had the urge to “pop-off” to Boot’s Pharmacy for a packet of “Motilium™ Instant melt tabs”.

Revived slightly from the nausea, but still a bit queasy from my aforementioned research, I’d like to begin this month’s post by sticking with the overall topic of Diminishing Membership Levels.

Not that I have ever had to admit a problem with “member shrinkage” but I’ve been in the business long enough to know “friends” with this particular problem and I’m qualified to offer advice. (ahem!)

If you also have “friends” who own Membership websites and are experiencing “member shrinkage” let them know first, that it is okay, and that they do not need to use proxy servers to discreetly search the Internet for information to help them with this “problem”.

…Because here, I’m offering sound advice, in a factual and “non judgmental” way.
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I look forward to bringing to the table, in these blog posts, surprising and unique ideas, in which our members might get to, utilize their existing membership skills in different, new, and exciting ways.

This month, I would like to focus on a growing economic, political, social movement flourishing online and offline, which is focused on righting the wrongs of the past, and achieving a more fair and sustainable future!

Started in the UK, this social phenomenon is providing exciting, new, and rewarding opportunities for people, such as yourself, with membership management skills, and the ability to publish and promote effectively online.

For many of you who follow this blog, this may seem like an alien concept because the entrepreneurial spirit we subscribe to,  most often manifests itself in the form of  sole proprietorships, partnerships, and/or the traditional corporations.

We always stress delivering value to the customer as a business mantra, but we tend to look at business models from the perspective of competition, rather than cooperation.

However, by the end of this article, I would like to re-define the meaning and benefits derived from cooperation through “Co-Operatives” and explore how this movement can benefit you personally, and society as a whole.

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