Northern Regional Report: May - June 2020

As we are all trying to navigate what has become the “new normal” that has been brought on by the pandemic, I know many of us are trying to keep up with routines and activities. To those of you who have still been able to incorporate recruiting into your “new normal”, thank you for your continued hard work. For those of you who haven’t been able to recruit given the circumstances, I know you all will be ready and raring to go once more gathering restrictions have been lifted.

During this time, let’s review one of the most crucial parts of the membership application submission process- payment. Over the past few months, we have seen a large influx in kicked back applications. Please, please be mindful of the information on the applications you’ve been submitting. Before you mail in your next batch of applications, please double (or even triple) check the following information:

• Checks: Incorrectly filled out checks are becoming an increasingly prevalent issue. First, please ensure that the check is made out to NRA- not to your club, store, or range. Our processing team is unable to use the check if it’s made out to anyone other than NRA. Second, please make sure that the check is dated correctly and that the written and numerical amounts match. Again, if this information is incorrect, our processing team is unable to use the check. This will result in either you having to send a replacement check, or paying the total due over the phone with a credit card.
• Credit Cards: It is crucial to make sure every credit card number you write down is complete and accurate. We see a lot of transposed or missing numbers on the forms that are submitted. Please just take an extra minute to double check the number that you write down is correct and valid, and includes an expiration date. Invalid credit card numbers get kicked back from our processing department, and result in us needing to contact the member to get the correct information.
• Member Information: Every member application that is submitted must include a name and valid mailing address on the form. Contact information, like phone number and email address, are not required but are helpful to have in the event that there is an issue processing their application. Please write this information as legibly as you can. If you have a hard time reading what’s written on the form, chances are we will too. Clearly written applications get processed quickly!

All of these errors can cause major delays in processing. The longer it takes for us to correct a payment issue or a member’s information, the longer it takes for us to get their memberships processed. This affects the amount of time it takes for them to get their credentials and their magazine, and for you to get your commission. Correcting these errors will ensure processing goes much more smoothly.

Thank you all for your patience as our Recruiting Team has been adjusting to working from home. Over the coming weeks, some states will begin their initial phases of re-opening. As this happens, please continue to keep me posted on your schedules as stores will be allowed to reopen, events will be rescheduled, and classes will resume. Take care!