Ashley Gaither

Founded in 1993 with 156 charter membersMission StatementRaised over $20 million 501(c)(3) non-profit organizationApproximately 4,500 members

Average membership increase is only 290 new members per year

To increase membership in Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to 5,000 members by January 1, 2009

To increase readership of brochures to 250,000 within 6 months

To increase business membership by 33% within 6 months

To increase local membership by 5% within 6 months

To increase membership by referral by 5% within 6 months

To maintain membership at 5,000 after January 2009

Visitors of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Gatlinburg businessesSevier County /

Gatlinburg residentsFriends / relatives of

current members

Stress benefits of membership and overall good of the organization

Brochures available throughout areaReach tourists through local media campaignHost hot air balloon event and bluegrass concertPresentations at local meetings

July Hot Air Balloons Event, Brochure Debut

August Presentation @ Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce

September Billboard Debut

October Bluegrass Concert Event, Media Campaign

November Presentation @ Gatlinburg City Hall

December Mail Thank You Stickers, Member References

Hot Air Balloon Event $1250

Bluegrass Concert Event $1000

Brochures $500

Media Campaign $2000

Presentations $250

Contingencies $500

Total $5500

Membership recordsSurvey results

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (n.d.). Friends of the Smokies. Retrieved May 28, 2008, from http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org/

U.S. Census Bureau (n.d.). Gatlinburg city, Tennessee – Fact Sheet – American FactFinder. Retrieved May 28, 2008, from http://factfinder.census.gov/

U.S. National Park Service (2008). Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Retrieved May 28, 2008, from http://www.nps.gov/grsm/