---
title: "Membership Hack: Recognizing Retirees"
id: "38521"
type: "post"
slug: "membership-hack-recognizing-retirees"
published_at: "2017-06-09T17:39:04+00:00"
modified_at: "2017-06-09T17:39:04+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/06/09/membership-hack-recognizing-retirees/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/06/09/membership-hack-recognizing-retirees.md"
excerpt: "By recognizing members who are retiring or already retired, one association is hoping to celebrate and engage them for a lifetime."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Membership"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "brand recognition"
  - "Membership"
  - "retirees"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Manager"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Membership Hack: Recognizing Retirees

**How to hack it?**The retirement wave is here, and while many baby boomers are [working past the traditional retirement age](http://associationsnow.com/2017/04/editors-note-transition-stories/)
 of 65, one association is preparing for the transition by recognizing and celebrating its members’ achievements.

That’s part of a new strategy that Melissa Zinder, manager of social media and online initiatives at the National Business Officers Association (NBOA), is working on right now. “We are brainstorming ideas about how we can recognize our retiree members at annual meetings because that’s typically one of the only times when our members meet face-to-face,” Zinder says.

**Why does it work?**The average age of a NBOA member is 55 years old, which means more retirees are coming soon. For next year’s meeting, she’s thinking through both high-tech and low-tech options to recognize and thank retirees. One idea is a digital bulletin board, posted in the conference lounge, which would display retirees’ photos and professional information. Another is to pass out Hawaiian leis to these members—something that’s a little more fun than the typical conference badge.

**What’s the bonus?**For a long time, there was no way for NBOA to know which members were retired. By asking and celebrating retirees at annual meetings, the association will now be able to track and engage those members—and possibly keep them as lifelong members. Right now, there are 30 retirees with an active membership, and Zinder says this new program should help to grow retention.

[Tim Ebner](https://associationsnow.com/author/tim-ebner/)

Tim Ebner is communications director and press secretary at the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, DC. He is a member of ASAE’s Communication Professionals Advisory Council and a former Associations Now senior editor.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/tim-ebner/)

Tags: [#brand recognition](https://associationsnow.com/tag/brand-recognition/)
 [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/)
 [#retirees](https://associationsnow.com/tag/retirees/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [TemplateMembers onlyNALHFA Meritorious Achievement & Home AwardsFebruary 27, 2006](https://associationsnow.com/2006/02/27/nalhfa-meritorious-achievement-home-awards/)
- [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/)
- [Video2020 Gold Circle AwardsApril 13, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/13/2020-gold-circle-awards-2/)
- [Video2020 Gold Circle AwardsApril 10, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/10/2020-gold-circle-awards-4/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F06%2F09%2Fmembership-hack-recognizing-retirees%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!