Membership survey LAST YEAR questionnaires were sent to 2,000 Shoreline members in a survey which aimed to find out more about membership to help future recruiting.

Over 1,000 completed forms were returned and analysed by computer.

Obviously individuals' details were treated in strict confidence and it is the overall results that are of interest.

Shoreline enjoys good support from most age groups and in most areas of the country, though some regions do have less members as a percentage of their population.

Advertising is the biggest single recruiter of members, followed by exhibitions, friends, branches and lifeboat stations. Shoreline members give a great deal of support in addition to their subscriptions. Over three quarters of the members regularly give active support by buying gifts, cards or lottery tickets, attending fund raising functions or collecting on flag days. Many members would like to have closer links with their local RNLI branch.

THE LIFEBOAT journal is popular with members; 47 per cent find the magazine very interesting and 44 per cent quite interesting. The vast majority of members are also satisfied with Shoreline.

Some members questioned the expense of printing and despatching THE LIFEBOAT and will be pleased to learn that increases in costs have been kept well below the rate of inflation. THE LIFEBOAT not only keeps members informed of RNLI news but is also a convenient way of sending out lottery tickets and gift catalogues at no extra cost.

Shoreline obviously appeals to boat users as 67 per cent of members take part in some form of boating or board sailing and almost half the members own a yacht, motor boat or dinghy.

The survey provided a great deal more information, but its most important finding is that most people, having joined Shoreline, find their membership an enjoyable way of supporting theRNLI. There is still enormous scope for recruiting new members of all ages, in all parts of the country. The Shoreline advertising campaign is organised by Head Office but branches, stations and individual members can help to boost the totals by running their own recruiting campaigns. Membership forms and posters are available from the Shoreline office in Poole.

Covenants Just over a third of members have covenanted their subscription. If the other two thirds simply signed a covenant, or tax recovery form, the money recovered from the Treasury would be enough to buy an extra new lifeboat every year. Covenanting is simple and does not cost you any extra money. If you are a UK tax payer, all you have to do is fill in a form, agreeing to pay your Shoreline subscription for four years, and send it to us. We will do the rest, and the RNLI will get the money back from the Treasury. For example, if you covenant a £10 subscription, the RNLI gets £4.29 more. It costs you nothing but a couple of signatures and if you pay tax at a higher rate, your covenant can be even more valuable.

If you have not filled in a covenant form, please do so when your next renewal notice arrives. Help us to buy that extra lifeboat.To: The Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ.

I enclose subscription to join Shoreline as an: Annual Member £5.00 (minimum) n Annual Family Membership £7.50 (minimum) D Annual Member and Governor £15.00 (minimum) n Life Member and Governor £150.00 (minimum) n Send me details of how I can help with a Legacy. D Name Address - Insignia available (to Shoreline members only) Description Quant. Price Total 5" Dinghy Burgee Sterling Silver Marcasite Brooch in gift box Silkscreened Gilt Cuff Links in gift box All Metal Car Badge 12" Hoist Flag 8" Hoist Flag Gilt and Enamel Stick Pin Gilt and Enamel Gents Lapel Badge Gilt and Enamel Ladies Brooch Gilt and Enamel Tie Tack 3" Diameter Anorak Badge Terylene Tie — blue, green, brown, maroon* Navy Blue Sweat Shirt (XL, L, M, S*) Navy Blue Acrylic V-neck Sweater (32. 34, 36, 38, 40. 42, 44*) Cream or Maroon Pure Wool Sleeveless Sweater (XL, L, M, S*) Shoreline Member's Replacement Windscreen Sticker £4.00 £18.40 £5.60 £4.80 £3.80 £2.80 £1.00 £1.15 £1.00 £1.30 £0.65 £3.95 £9.15 £10.00 £14.25 £0.20 Total payment £ I enclose cheque/P.O.* (Made payable to RNLI) £ - •Delete as necessaryPOSTMAN PAT, Victoria Plum and Tommy the Engine letterheads, photographs of teddy bears, paintings, jokes by the score and pleas for more newsletters have livened up the morning post since the introduction of Storm Force on January 2. Some 3,000 under sixteens have joined the club either as individuals or in groups and already money is being received from fundraising events organised by the youngsters.

The club, whose aim is to interest young people in the work of the lifeboat service and to encourage their support when they become adults, has got off to a good start and their quick response to competitions and 'deliberate' mistakes indicate the keenness of these young supporters.

As with any new venture, Storm Force has room for development, improvement and growth and in the months ahead, special souvenir items will be introduced, small changes will be made in membership categories and the promotion of Storm Force in schools and other outlets will be stepped up. Members' interest will be maintained through the newsletters—for which the RNLI has an endless supply of rescue stories, information and pictures. For the first time in the Institution's history a long overdue club for juniors has been established, and its future looks exciting and rewarding for everyone involved.

Further information may be obtained from Storm Force Headquarters, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ..