A. Renewal Process Steps:
1. Regular/Commercial/Corporate/Sustaining/Sponsoring/Student members:
Via e-mail: Send Regular Membership Renewal Form/E-Mail as an attachment, with a note providing your
address where payment should be sent. This may be done as a group email to save time.
Via Mail: Although more expensive, some chapters have had good success with sending out renewal forms
along with a SASE (stamped, self-addressed envelope). You may use the custom mailing label list for your chapter
located at arsoffice.org or generate them from your own file. Place member label and Chapter label on the
Membership Renewal Form/Mail. Place
both in larger envelope and mail out. You may wish to mail these along with your newsletter.
Online Renewals:: Many people prefer online renewals for its convenience. Please suggest this as an
option in your renewal materials. Members must renew while still current, as the website will not recognize their
information once they have lapsed past December 31. You will need to provide your members with their Member id# and
the instructions below:
To renew at arsoffice.org: Click On-line Renewal of ARS Membership Dues link located in the blue "Members" column
and follow the prompts. This online renewal form may also be used to update your contact information, make
a donation and change your membership level. You may pay by credit card, debit card or personal PayPal account.
Your payment will be processed through PayPal and both your local chapter and the National office will receive
notice that you have renewed.
For lapsed members: You may renew online at rhododendron.org. This form is meant for both new
and lapsed members.
2. Associate members:
Send the Associate
Membership Renewal Form as above. Associate members have an "A" next to their name on your
Chapter roster. One must first be a chapter member in a regular, corporate etc. category before one
may become an Associate of another chapter.
3. Life members:
Although Life members do not receive renewal notices, you should contact them at least once
a year to confirm their contact information etc. Life member credits ($10 each) are paid annually to your
chapter for those members who became Life Members after July 1, 1984.
Your Chapter's Custom Roster Renewal Form - (sample
form) As you receive your renewals, place an “x” next to the member’s name and note
any donations or changes in contact information under the appropriate column. Specific instructions are noted on this form to
ensure accuracy.
Associate members are not included due to "technical" reasons and will need to be manually listed by you at
the bottom of the Renewal form. (Only the member id# and last name is necessary for those folks).
Please email these to me as you receive them, so that the database remains current. Checks should be sent to:
ARS Office, PO Box 43, Craryville NY 12521
Early October - Send October Renewal Reminder as above. Follow up with late renewals by phone. Don't give up on
them until you hear a definitive "no".
Early November- Call members who have not renewed. Sometimes this gentle nudge is all that
is needed.
Deadline for Journal - As a courtesy, the ARS sends the Winter Journal to all current members from the previous year.
After February 1, non-renewed members are removed from the mailing list and access to online journals at arsoffice.org is disabled.
Those renewing after February 1 may purchase any missed issues (if available) for $10.00 (US & Canada) and $25.00 (foreign),
plus postage.
B. Membership Categories and Dues:
| Category |
ARS Office |
Chapter Credit |
Total Dues |
Regular (R)
(One or two people in same household.) |
$30.00 |
$10.00 |
$40.00 |
| Commercial / Corporate (C) |
$80.00 |
$10.00 |
$90.00 |
| Sustaining (Su) |
$63.00 |
$12.00 |
$75.00 |
| Sponsoring (Sp) |
$136.00 |
$14.00 |
$150.00 |
| Student (St) |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
$10.00 |
| Associate (A) |
$0.00 |
$10.00 |
$10.00 |
Life (L)
(1 or 2 people in same household) |
$1000
chapter credit: $10/year |
