USA Chairman of the Board and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is proud to be the very first member of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance.
In a year plagued by the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) surpassed 300,000 members, achieving its biggest membership milestone since 2013, when the organization reached 200,000 members.
In a typical year, USA’s fundraising shoots and dinners, conservation projects, and participation at union conferences play a major role in renewing and recruiting USA members. Due to COVID-19, most union conventions and many USA events and projects were postponed this year. In the face of adversity, the USA staff remained committed to achieving the organization’s 300,000-member milestone.
With innovation, tenacity, and dedication, the USA launched a host of giveaways, campaigns with partner unions, and social media initiatives to recruit new members throughout the spring and summer. After a final push that kicked off just before Labor Day, the USA achieved 300,000 members on September 10.
“There is no doubt, it has been a tough year for the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and so many other non-profits,” said USA Executive Director and CEO Scott Vance. “To achieve a milestone of 300,000 members in spite of those challenges is a testament to the hard work of USA staff, commitment of our union and corporate partners, and dedication of our existing members to help spread the word.”
The significant increase in membership positions the USA for continued growth and expansion in its efforts to improve public access to the outdoors, conserve wildlife habitats, restore America’s parks, and mentor youth in the outdoors.
“As the USA membership grows, we are able to organize and engage more and more union sportsmen and sportswomen to volunteer their time and trade skills to complete community-based conservation projects and events to help preserve North America’s outdoor heritage,” USA Board Chairman and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “I was the very first USA member in 2007, and I still proudly carry my USA membership card. I could not be prouder of the USA’s growth over the past 13 years.”
Recognizing that more members equals more volunteers for conservation projects, greater benefit to current and potential partners, and more value to existing members, the USA now has its sights set on 400,000 members. To get there, according to Vance, the USA plans to innovate and adapt, focus its capacity on the most important aspects of the organization, and strategically align its mission with the needs of its union partners, both in the midst of this global pandemic and beyond.
