Oh, the woes of the unassigned zip code list. Every month we receive the unassigned zip code list and make our updates. We send it to the Home Office requesting the updates be made and for some reason they do not seem to make it to the right person, and the unassigned zip code comes out again the next month. So what are we doing wrong? Let's start first by offering a brief description of the unassigned zip code list.

What does the unassigned zip code list tell us? The most prevalent explanation for the unassigned zip code list is that a new zip code was added to an area by the United States Postal Service that has not been assigned to a Chapter. Other examples would be that there was an error in the zip code when a membership application was filled out or maybe a typing error when it was entered in the database. Regardless of what the problem may be, we must be diligent in checking the list, making corrections, and assigning the zip code to a Chapter that is closest to the city of the zip code. No zip code should be unassigned unless it is in a very remote area by itself and there is no Chapter within riding distance.

What is on the unassigned zip code list? There are five columns of information on the list.

1. The first is the State column that tells us which state the zip code is in.
2. The second is the City column. This lists the city for which the zip code is assigned.
3. The third is the Zip column. This gives the listing of the unassigned zip codes.
4. The fourth is the number of Members column. This tells us how many Members live within this zip code area.
5. The last column is the Assign to Chapter column. It is left blank so you can add the Chapter assignment.

Who should be checking it? This responsibility falls on the District Directors and the District Membership Enhancement Coordinators. They should check the list and assign the unassigned zip codes to a Chapter.

Who can submit the changes or updates? This is the total responsibility of the District Director. When the updates are made to the list, the District Director should then forward this information to Deena Shaw at dshaw@gwrra.org. No one other than the District Directors should be sending updates for the zip codes. By following these directions, the District Directors are kept abreast of, and become familiar with, their Districts zip codes, cities and towns. This will also enable the District Director to see where he/she needs new Chapters.

What should we do with our RV travelers who keep addresses in a town and travel year round? These zip codes must be assigned to a Chapter. There is always a chance that we will get a new Member in one of these zip code areas who doesn't travel all the time, and they would need to be contacted.

So, back to our original question, "What are we doing wrong?" It may be that the answer is too many people are trying to make these updates, and a simple solution is only the District Director and District Membership Enhancement Coordinator should be working with this list.

June Agee