Thanks for the kudos and words of encouragement Brian. The office totally rebuilt the fulfillment system from the ground up for 2009 and many of our north american members are now reporting that they are receiving their membership packages in about one week. Quite an improvement from the eight to nine weeks we were forced to endure in 2008 due to problems with the USPS and the opening of their new mail processing center near Alpharetta.

The e-newsletter is now under the direction of the PDGA Media Group and John Duesler so look for it to improve and be published more often and consistently in 2009. Add to this the new website, which is still under development, and the new PDGA publication, and you will see that we are making a concerted effort to improve communication with our members in 2009.

Despite having to endure the posting of inaccurate and misleading information along with all of the negativity exhibited by a very select few on this message board, the office staff remains upbeat, positive, and dedicated to improving service to all of our fellow members in 2009 and we are looking forward to the new year with much anticipation and excitement.

We invite members to contact us by phone or e-mail anytime they may have a problem or challenge so that we can properly address it and continue to improve our association.

Happy New Year!

Heres another positive on membership re-newal. I re-newed online Dec 12 - 2 memberships. Got confirmation e-mails Dec. 15. Recieved membership packets Dec. 23. I live in Abilene, Tx.

11 day turn around time

Good job PDGA....a good start to 2009!

I hate to rain on the parade on Christmas Eve, but I renewed on November 28 and I don't have my goodies.

Renewed 12-15. I have had my new card in my pocket for a few days already. Thanks.

Renewed 12/11 and promptly received confirmation of my order, but have not seen anything else. It may have gone into the junk folder which was cleaned out on the 18th.

Re: Anita - Your membership was recently processed. As an early season renewal, you were in the last 'manually processed' batch. [Sorry :(, someone had to be 'last'.]

Re: gnduke - Thanks for renewing as an ACE CLUB member! We received the 2009 Ace Club shirts today (12/24/08)... Your membership will be processed just after the X-mas holiday. [The shirts are actually still sitting in the boxes... we will get them sorted, folded, bagged and ready for processing on MON 12/29/08.]

-----

Re: All other Ace Club | Birdie Club | Legacy (20 Year) | 10 Year members (who signed up AFTER 12/4/08) - We just received the various goodies that are included with your 09 membership... All outstanding Ace Club, Birdie Club, Legacy, and 10 Year membership packages were either just processed or will be processed after the X-mas holiday.

Re: All other early season renewals - Your membership has either been recently processed (as part of the last few manual batches) or will be processed in early JAN 09 (see below for further explanation).

PDGA HQ is finishing up the mailing list for MULTI-YEAR and EAGLE CLUB members (If your address changed in 2008, and you have not already called Addie [1-706-261-6342] to update your info, get it done ASAP)... these memberships will ship in early JAN 09. If you signed up really early, you are probably in this category... see first FAQ item in next post.

Breiner

2009 PDGA MEMBERSHIP PROCESSING

GENERAL NOTES:

PDGA HQ gave the "go ahead" to turn on the new membership system THU 12/4/08. Anyone renewing after that date should get the following (assuming you enter a valid email address):

Order Received confirmation email
- This email confirms:
... that your order was received
... lists the details of the order "as entered" by you.
OR
... lists the details of the order "as entered" by your Affiliate Club contact
OR
... lists the details of the order "as entered" by a PDGA Staff member

- If you spot an error, give the membership office a call ASAP
[1-888-840-7342]. Increased efficiency = Less time to report an error.

Order Processed confirmation email
- This email confirms:
... that your order has been processed
... lists the date of mailing
... lists the carrier used (99.9% of the time via USPS)
... provides an expected delivery time frame
... re-confirms the details of your membership order "as filled".
... NEW Members also receive their PDGA #

-----

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER/REMEMBER FAQ:

Q: I renewed back in OCT/NOV 08... where's my stuff?
A: Early season renewals (assuming you were current in 2008) are (read: were) marked in the "weekly membership batches" as "2008 CURRENT" and are filled in early JAN 09 as part of the MULTI-YEAR, EAGLE CLUB, or otherwise ALREADY 09 CURRENT batch.
WHY: Two reasons: 1.) The membership season ends with the last Major of the year (this year, the last day to renew for 2008 was NOV 17th.) 2.) 2009 membership materials and items to be included were not available at the time.
BOTTOM LINE: You beat us to the new season, but we won't forget about you!

Q: I signed up as a NEW member AFTER 9/1/08... Am I current for 2009? When will I receive my 2009 membership materials?
A: Yes, New (first time) members and renewing members last current in 2003 or earlier who signed up after August 25th (to be processed in the September 1st weekly membership batch) were extended to the end of 2009. You membership materials will be sent in early JAN 09 as you fall into the "otherwise ALREADY 09 CURRENT batch" mentioned above.

Q: Am I current when I "sign up" or when I "receive my package"
A: When you sign up.
- Make sure your email address is correct to receive your 'Order Received' & 'Order Processed' emails.
- NEW MEMBERS - Your PDGA # is in your "Order Processed" email.

Q: How long does it take for my membership status to "update" on www.pdga.com. (http://www.pdga.com.)
A: Right now: The database tables that build the webpages on www.pdga.com (http://www.pdga.com) are uploaded weekly (so 1-7 days depending on when you sign up). Future: PDGA HQ will soon be able to process the membership system data feed nightly.

Q: I received my "Order Processed" email; it's been a week... where's my stuff?
A: While most packages arrive within the estimated time frames, SOME WILL NOT... wait a few more days. If you still have not received your package 14 days from the date of shipment, please give Addie [1-706-261-6342] a call... she will gladly put in a "remake package" request.
WHY: Mail sometimes takes longer because (insert any number of possible reasons here). Once your package has been shipped, the PDGA no longer has control of the package. If your original package does not arrive promptly, we can quickly help FIX the situation, but may not be able to tell you what happened to the original (read: there's a reason why the post office has a Dead Letter Office, Lost Mail Recovery Center, Damaged Mail Office, etc.). In other words, ERRORS
WILL OCCUR; the USPS most likely did not single YOU out.

Q: I've complained about not receiving (insert item here) on the message board and nothing has been done.
A: The message board is a forum. Don't assume your message will be read by anyone other than the general public. Give Addie a call at 1-706-261-6342... she's very pleasant to speak with.

Q: I think something else went wrong. It's the end of the world! It can't be fixed!
A: Might have. It's not. It can be fixed - and will be if you give Addie a call at 1-706-261-6342.

-----

If you have a question relating to an "in house order" (ie an order that was 'JUST PLACED')... give the Membership office a call at 1-888-840-7342.

All other membership related questions should be directed to the always friendly Memberships Manager - Addie Isbell - at
1-706-261-6342.

-----

Breiner

Re: Anita - Your membership was recently processed. As an early season renewal, you were in the last 'manually processed' batch. [Sorry :(, someone had to be 'last'.]






That's fine, I don't mind being last as long as I get my goodies ;)

Re: gnduke - Thanks for renewing as an ACE CLUB member! We received the 2009 Ace Club shirts today (12/24/08)... Your membership will be processed just after the X-mas holiday. (The shirts are actually still sitting in the boxes... we will get them sorted, folded, bagged and ready for processing on MON 12/29/08.)



I thought the Ace club goodies might be the cause of the delay.

Memberships:

On Friday Dec 12, 2:30 PM I paid my wife and my 09 renewals over the phone. Within 2 seconds of giving Keith Johnson at the fulfillment house the last digits of my credit card I received "order confirmation" emails.

On Tuesday Dec 16, 2:50 PM ( 2 business days later), I received "orders processed" emails.

On Tuesday Dec 23 our membership envelopes, postmarked Dec 16, arrived on Toronto Island.

Given it probably takes 1-2 days more (sometimes longer) for mail from USA to reach a Canadian vs most USA destinations and a day more to reach the Island vs downtown, this is, without question, easily the best PDGA membership fulfillment service ever.

Information:

Yesterday I received a seasons greetings e-newsletter from HQ with a link to the PDGA pages in the next (final) issue of FDM and the good news that John Duesler will once again be serving as Marketing Director. There is lots of timely and useful info in those pages.

For me the PDGA glass and life in general has always been more than half full. I hope you will join me and thousands of other members in supporting our staff and volunteers as they strive to move the organization forward.

Here's to a great 2009 for disc golf and the PDGA.

BDH




I would expect nothing less from Keith. Now I don't expect the Org to work so efficiently.

while the thought that getting emails a few seconds after submitting a form constitutes "good service" resulted in a sad chuckle, it is great that the association is starting to measure their performance on these activities and perhaps be striving to improve it.

if you cant measure it, you cant manage it. so kudos for starting to measure.

BG, get over it. on one hand you disparage those who criticize and try to say its only a few. on the other hand you cast yourselves as martyrs who endure unending attack from all sides. which is it? pick a side and stick to it. your effort to regain some level of credibility will be greatly enhanced.

BDH, is everyone whose opinion differs from yours wrong? is everything that is said that doesnt conform to your worldview nothing more than Yap yap yap yap yap? and you call me the problem.

I could have cared less about the e-mail...getting the goods faster than any of the previous 5 years of renewing was the good service part. But yes, the measures are a step in the right direction.

I could have cared less about the e-mail...getting the goods faster than any of the previous 5 years of renewing was the good service part. But yes, the measures are a step in the right direction.



Still no renewal stuff after sending it in over a month ago.

Good job!

Scooter, why don't you read the thread. If you renewed over a month ago, you were most likely in the last batch of manually processed renewals....
While you're at it, why don't you step away from the computer, or at least the PDGA board and quit crying and bit ching about every little thing. While some points you have may be valid, you come across as an ignorant little _____.

If it isn't here in another two weeks can I post then?

While some points you have may be valid, you come across as an ignorant little _____.

Matt,

I sent you an email yesterday inquiring a few things based on your post but have not received a response. First off, we do thank you for renewing; however, you do not show as current for 2009 as of today. This is most likely why you haven't received anything. Can you provide a bit more information as to where you sent your membership (Alpharetta, GA or Appling, GA) or if it was a renewal through an event? If you renewed at an event then we must wait until the TD report arrives. If you mailed in the form, it would help if you could remember when exactly you did this. Has the check cleared? Was it a charge to a credit card? Has that payment been posted? Have you received the "order confirmation" email or the "processed" email? With more details I can look into this further. Please email me as it is best to have reference to communications and follow-ups: [email protected]

Thank you.

I want to add a little something to the speed of things as well. Our fulfillment house still sends batches on Wednesdays for me to push to the web (which also will be eliminated in the future) and I have had reports of members receiving their packages before I even know they have joined/renewed! That is progress. Thank you Todd, Keith and Ryan!

There still may be a few that get lost along the way...plus mixed with the holiday rush... but if you are sitting on a wait of one month after you received the "processed" email, please notify the office. We most definitely will get your items to you.

Thank you so much!

Peace,
Addie

with what letter(s) do(es) the word in the blank start?



I can't vote. S is not an option...

"I sent you an email yesterday inquiring a few things based on your post but have not received a response. "

come on matt, get on it dude.

"I sent you an email yesterday inquiring a few things based on your post but have not received a response. "

come on matt, get on it dude.




Sorry I don't check My e-mail 10 times a day as all I ever have is junk anyway.

I'll have to ask my dad as he is the one who always gets it in as my Christmas gift.

Form was mailed in on Dec 9 and I had no message in my inbox.

[email protected]

Thank you.

The email on file was different than the one you provided. [email protected]

I will change it now.

With that date, you may appear in my batch I receive tomorrow to post online; otherwise, the next step would be to see if the payment has cleared. If not, then we have not received it yet.

Please email me in the future [email protected] as these posts are only brought to our attention on occasion.

Back to work...

Matt Hall everybody:


Still no renewal stuff after sending it in over a month ago.


The above was posted on 12/29.


Form was mailed in on Dec 9 and I had no message in my inbox.




Hmmmm.

Matt Hall everybody:


Still no renewal stuff after sending it in over a month ago.


The above was posted on 12/29.


Form was mailed in on Dec 9 and I had no message in my inbox.




Hmmmm.




I was told it was being sent in by my dad over a month ago but he said he didn't get around to it until the 9th. Good thing is it wasn't in the early batch of people who still haven't received their stuff right?

Normally he sends it in mid November and we get the stuff mid-Jan.

Matt Hall everybody:


Still no renewal stuff after sending it in over a month ago.


The above was posted on 12/29.


Form was mailed in on Dec 9 and I had no message in my inbox.




Hmmmm.




I was told it was being sent in by my dad over a month ago but he said he didn't get around to it until the 9th. Good thing is it wasn't in the early batch of people who still haven't received their stuff right?

Normally he sends it in mid November and we get the stuff mid-Jan.



Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned concerning posting things as fact before checking your facts? Especially when done in an inflammatory manner?

yes there is. the lesson is to become part of management before doing stuff like that. inaccuracies are regularly posted by most of us. an inaccuracy should not get one probed.

.....very sad but unfortunately consistent.

Seeing the updated discipline list had me going back here to remove my post above as it just doesn't matter now. But I guess it did provide a chance for further ax grinding. I hope the New Year provides you increased opportunities for positive outlooks.

I appreciate the edit with the added sentences. Much less harsh than the original two sentence response. But I wouldn't agree that 'most of us' are posting inaccuracies, and especially not when wrapping such around accusations of poor service or performance.


Happy New Year, Pat!

the trouble tim is that any mention of service or any other aspect that is not positive and glowing is potentially met with charges of treason. intelligent discourse suffers and ultimately dies in that environment.