CSSA Committees

Education & Professional Development Committee

Committee Composition: Minimum of 8 members (preferred 60% to 40% owner/operators to business partners)

Skills and attributes of committee members:

• Thorough understanding and assessment of various aspects of self storage operations
• Contacts or willingness to research various topics and instructors
• Willingness to follow through on assignments given such as research or contacting potential presenters
• Ability to see the “big picture” as well as be active in the logistics and minutia of planning
• Open mind to new ideas and ability to give unbiased recommendations
• Writing, editing, publication, webinar/streaming technology helpful, but not required
• True ambassador for the CSSA Education & Training Program – willing to verbally promote it

Committee meeting frequency: Committee meets approximately 6 – 8 times per year via conference call

Goals of the committee:

• Develop a full range of workshops or seminars, targeting owners and managers, covering topics of interest to most members.
• Care should be taken to offer these throughout the state to provide inexpensive and easy access by owners, operators, and managers.
• Investigate various other methods of educating the membership including webinars, online on-demand courses, publications, and training manuals.

Marketing & Communications (MarCom) Committee

Committee Composition: Minimum of 8 members (can be mixed, preferred 50% to 50% owner/operators to business partners)

Skills and attributes of committee members:

• Thorough understanding and assessment of various aspects of self storage operations
• Contacts or willingness to reach out to trade or local media
• Writing and/or editing skills
• Website experience or desire to learn
• Social media skills including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
• Willingness to follow through on assignments given such as research, writing or editing content for stories, brochures, etc.
• Ability to work with other committees to provide promotional and marketing items
• Willingness to logon to website on consistent basis to provide feedback on items to be updated and/or modified
• True ambassador for the CSSA Education & Training Program – willing to verbally promote it

Committee meeting frequency: Committee meets approximately 6 – 8 times per year via conference call, depending on complexity of items needed for marketing – assignments and work in-between calls may be necessary. Individual "Marketing Teams" may meet more frequently to accomplish specific tasks.

Goals of the committee:

• Oversee entire marketing effort by CSSA to communicate with members, trade press, media, and communities.
• Work closely with other committees to help them accomplish their goals through collaborative efforts to achieve their communication & marketing goals. 
• Provide constant feedback (and possibly some physical tasks) to maintain updated website, add content to social media, and help promote social media to members.

Membership Committee 

Committee Composition: Minimum of 10 members (can be mixed, 50% to 50% owner/operators to business partners)

Skills and attributes of committee members:

• Thorough understanding of benefits to belonging to CSSA
• Good connections within a region or throughout the state
• Abilities and desire to communicate one-on-one with potential or lapsed members
• Willingness to volunteer for, or follow through on given assignments
• Ability to see the “big picture” as well as be active in the logistics and minutia of planning
• Creativity, empathy, and ability to have an open mind to new ideas and programs
• Writing, editing, publication of membership marketing materials
• True ambassador for membership in CSSA – willing to verbally promote it

Committee meeting frequency: Committee meets approximately 7 - 9 times per year via conference call

Goals of the committee:

• Recruitment
  • Review current membership demographics – breakdown of various categories. 
  • Collect and review list of potential members.
  • Develop year-long marketing plan to recruit new members via email marketing campaign, booth at other industry tradeshow, direct solicitation, regional activities to invite prospective members, etc.
  • Create and produce marketing pieces, ads, email blasts, description on website that highlights benefits of membership.
  • Set goals and track progress. 
• Retention
  • Review lapsed members – develop program for direct solicitation to address their concerns.
  • Work with Education & Training Committee and invite lapsed or non-renewed members to participate.
  • Develop programs such as member-mentor.
  • Set goals and track progress.

Napa Self Storage Owner’s Conference Committee

Committee Composition: Minimum of 10 members (can be mixed, 50% to 50% owner/operators to business partners)

Skills and attributes of committee members:

• Connections with owners and business partners throughout the California self storage industry
• Willingness to reach out to connections to promote event and/or solicit sponsorship
• Basic understanding of event and meeting planning
• Creative idea generator
• Willingness to follow through on assignments given
• Work with CSSA staff team on specific assignments
• Ability and willingness to promote event via word-of-mouth, social media posts, and other marketing platforms
• Ability to attend Napa Conference
• True ambassador for the CSSA and the Napa Conference

Committee meeting frequency: Committee meets approximately 8 times per year usually monthly via conference call – fulfill assignments in between meetings

Goals of the committee:

• Oversee planning and implementation of CSSA Napa Self Storage Owner’s Conference.
• Generate ideas to improve and keep conference “fresh.”
• Work with CSSA staff team and committee chair, fulfilling any assignments given.
• Continue to grow program in stature, attendance, and sponsors.

Charity Golf Classic Committee

Committee Composition: Minimum of 8 members (can be mixed, 50% to 50% owner/operators to business partners)

Skills and attributes of committee members:

• Connections with owners and business partners throughout the California self storage industry
• Willingness to reach out to connections to promote event, secure sponsors, and get foursomes
• Basic understanding of golf tournament logistics
• Creative idea generator
• Willingness to follow through on assignments given
• Work with CSSA staff team on specific assignments
• Ability and willingness to promote event via word-of-mouth, social media posts, and other marketing platforms
• Ability to attend Charity Golf Classic
• True ambassador for the CSSA and the Charity Golf Classic

Committee meeting frequency: Committee meets approximately 7 - 9 times per year – every few months beginning in September but more frequently in March - May – fulfill assignments in between meetings

Goals of the committee:

• Oversee planning and implementation of CSSA Charity Golf Classic.
• Generate ideas to improve and keep tournament fun.
• Work with CSSA staff team and committee in fulfilling any assignments given.
• Continue to grow program to maximize donation to charity.