Upgrades to Membership Coming Soon
Posted On: April 13, 2012
by Elizabeth Comiskey, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator
In the spirit of spring cleaning, many of us are reorganizing closets, getting rid of broken furniture, 
and otherwise finding ways to eliminate clutter and simplify our daily lives. FMC, meanwhile, is excitedly knee-deep in the process of transitioning its member database to a new, upgraded system. After a lengthy research process, we have identified Salsa as the best tool for our organizations needs. Salsa’s capabilities will provide a more hassle-free experience when joining, renewing, or donating, and will make it easier for members to take action on national farmers market issues. The new platform will also result in a change of renewal dates. Soon, members will expire on the last day of their expiration month, instead of a specific date during that month.
This past fall, the Farmers Market Coalition board of directors voted to raise the dues of the individual farmers market members for the first time since its inception. The additional revenue created through the increase will go directly to supporting our mission and expanding member benefits, continuing to bring timely topics to the table through FMC member webinars. We hope that you agree that the value of an FMC membership still far outweighs cost! The fees for individual farmers markets will increase from $25 to $40 on June 1, 2012. So, there is still plenty of time to renew, or join, and get a full year at the rate of $25! Please note that all other rates are remaining at the current rates.
To make this transition as smooth as possible, and ensure that FMC has the most up-to-date information about your market as possible, we are asking members to update their profiles. Please be on the lookout for a request from FMC to update your profile to accurately reflect the 2012 season. We never share your personal information without your authorization, but we do use the collective numbers to speak for themselves when FMC represents the farmers market movement!
What are some of the benefits of a Farmers Market Coalition membership?
-A voice on the hill making sure farmers markets are recognized for the positive impacts on their community
-Legislative updates to members on an ongoing basis
-Resources, such as the new Farmers Market Advocate’s Advocacy Toolkit– a how-to guide filled with resources and templates to assist you in reaching out to your legislators
-Collaboration with other national organizations, creating a unified voice in policy efforts
-Farmers market specific training through monthly member webinars. Each webinar includes resources, handouts, and opportunities to ask the experts questions
– A “proud member of FMC” badge for you to display on your organization’s web site to show your participation in a national network
-Opportunities to participate in creative programs just for members, such as Discover You Can™
-Publicity opportunities- FMC is committed to sharing the ongoing accomplishments of farmers markets. In the past year, we have published FMPP success stories and shared them nationally, highlighted many markets during National Farmers Market Week, and helped markets write op-eds for local distribution.
You can read more about other specific member benefits here.
