Hello all and a happy new year!
We are already nearly 400 strong for the year!
I'm looking forward to hearing from those of you yet to renew!
A short update on membership
cards this year.
Digital cards:
All members who have a validated payment, either online, through CAHA or other means, and where you have sent a completed membership form for 2024 before 4-Jan-24, should have been sent an Apple/iOS wallet card for use at your need.
If you are a member requiring a google/android wallet card then you may have to wait a few more days as we're awaiting google to validate the code and then those who have notified of a google/android preference will be sent the relevant link.
If you send your form and/or pay dues the next card mailout will be 12-Jan-24, and weekly on fridays thereafter.
If you have issues I can trouble shoot at the next talk for you or answer via email.
Please note these cards are not suitable for printing and are designed to be used in the phone 'wallet' app.
If you have a google phone and would like to use the apple card you can do this through apps available in the google play shop, eg Pass2Pay or Pay Wallet, but if these do not work for you you need to contact the app providers to assist.
Physical cards:
Those of you who have requested additional physical cards are available to collect them from the fantastic team at Ecocentric (7 The Parade) when open, from Friday 5-Jan 1200.
These cards include an additional 'QR' sticker that matches your digital card and will enable streamlining our sign in process at upcoming talks. Please remember to bring your card to any events.
If you would like a physical membership card please request using the form in the members area as this helps me keep track of requests.
Local stores
All places where discounts are available have been contacted and sent examples of new cards, both physical and digital. This includes:
Crossys
Chessington Garden Centre
Squires Long Ditton, Cobham, Hersham
Hill Park Roses
Check out the discounts page in the members only area for more info.
Why the change?
As we move into 2024 the adoption of digital cards is important, but we'll continue to offer physical cards for those with no mobile device, concerns about the digital approach, or until we've confirmed that the process works!
The goal is to :
Foster community growth by embracing digital membership management
Increase inclusion of families and young gardeners in our society who are more 'digital first'
Streamline volunteer involvement by simplifying card distribution
Ensure every member receives their cards and reduce the need for replacements
Reduce paper waste and cut costs associated with printing, stamping, posting, and reproducing
Achieve future savings by transitioning to a cost-effective digital option.
Set up a system which can be automated as much as possible in future
A note of thanks!
Change can be hard and it takes a lot of faith and patience. I want to thank you for doing all you can to support the roll out of this approach. It wouldn't be possible without your openness to the technology, so a big thank you for embracing it where it may be unfamiliar.
I'd also like to add a huge thank you to my husband for helping set this up with me over Christmas, fathoming the pitfalls of apple and google wallet systems and helping to create an automated creation system that saves us subscribing to expensive tools that would do it for us. This means that additional card creation can be made more seamless in the future! It's taken some work, a lot of chocolate as a bribe, but by setting this up ourselves we've saved the society the ongoing cost of a tool to do it for us!
Thanks !
Kat
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