In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, I am pleased to announce the renaissance of the AAFD!
1. Take a peek at the AAFD’s new website launched in late November: www.AAFD.org
You will find advanced features and improved navigation and interactive opportunities. The new site has been built from the ground up to take advantage of improved technology and social media opportunities.
2. We are excited to introduce the AAFD’s new promotional video:
www.aafd.org/aafdstory
This new video is produced to be a valuable viral marketing tool for AAFD chapters to aid in member recruitment. We encourage all members to forward the link to this short video to your friends who are franchisees or just interested in franchising. We also offer a co-branded ‘affiliate’ version of this video making it possible for chapters and affiliated associations to add their own branding to the AAFD Story.
3. The Franchisee Voice Newsletter, will now be published as an interactive blog as part of our website. Readers will be able to comment on articles, and we will be able to publish affiliate articles with greater frequency and longer shelf life for your message. We welcome your submissions.
4. New and Improved AAFD Meeting Call features! Our much applauded Free Conference Bridges now include free moderator dashboards. You can now track your calls and your attendees and control many functions of your calls.
5. New Webinar capabilities have been added to the AAFD Meeting Call service offerings. AAFD members and chapters can now have secure online meetings at a very low cost.
6. Join or renew your membership online.
7. We are now on Facebook, LinkedIN, YouTube and Twitter. Please like us, follow us, watch us and Join in as we seek to embrace new opportunities to engage social media !
8. New and Improved offerings from our Branded Program Partners, including (details to follow):
• Great new rates from AAFD Payment Processing from Payment Alliance International.
• A Great New VoIP Bundle from AAFD Telecommunications from our partner Telcentris and VoxOx in Business.
• Expanded services from AAFD Graphic Services from Inventiva Design.
9. Coming Soon. Low cost smart phone and tablet Aps for our members and chapters. Stay tuned for details.
I am also pleased to report on some important features that haven’t changed:
1. AAFD trademark chapters continue to be the most cost efficient and effective way to form and support an independent trade association for franchise owners. Check out our new video for more information: www.aafd.org/aafdstory.
2. The Franchisee LegaLine continues to interact with members to encourage and recommend qualified counsel. The AAFD has adopted an RFP process for our chapters to select legal counsel in an open process competitive bidding from LegaLine affiliated law firms.
3. Perhaps most important, the cost of AAFD membership remains just $180 for franchisee membership, plus chapter dues as established by each chapter board of directors.
4. Not involved in an AAFD Chapter, AAFD Associate Membership is now as little as $69 a year.
Over the past two years, the AAFD has gone through many positive changes. The AAFD continues to focus on our core purpose of launching and supporting independent franchise associations as chapters of the AAFD. The AAFD has weathered the Great Recession, eradicated its debt, built its reserves and has resumed a path of growth and commitment to Total Quality Franchising practices.
As we prepare to celebrate the AAFD’s 20th Anniversary – by far the longest tenured generic franchisee association in history – we look forward to your active involvement and support.
Again, we look forward to your continued support.
