by Tonie Auer

Staff Writer, Fort Worth Business Press

September 1, 2000

Non-profits and chambers of commerce working to serve their members have another tool at their fingertips – Fort Worth-based CompuSol’s new software program: reMEMBER. CompuSol created reMEMBER client membership tracking software as a Windows based program. “It is very user friendly, affordable and will do mobile computing,” said Greg Solomon, president of the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Developed by CompuSol senior partners Kevin McCann and Christie Thornton, the idea was born from serving a client of their consulting business. While at the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce, they saw the old technology they were using with a DOS-based application. “We write custom Windows software and we told Greg we’d create something better for him,” McCann said. The majority of association-based software is old, McCann said.

Thornton said it took them a little more than two years to develop the software and now five test sites are trying it. reMEMBER was first marketed in December 1999. Currently, reMEMBER has 12 clients and negotiations are underway with 10 more. The March tornado slowed McCann and Thornton down. Located in the Mallick Tower, they were among many businesses hit hard by the twister. But, despite some delays, they have reMEMBER moving forward.

“We have the unique experience of developing software products following Microsoft standards with a graphical user interface,” Thornton said. “We strive to be user friendly.” With this new software, a new chamber employee can do 90 percent of the program without training, Thornton said. Additionally, McCann said about 90 percent of chambers today use several software packages. With CompuSol’s software, several applications are pulled together in one product for a member database, financial application, events, letters, e-mail, fax and more.

The reMEMBER program was designed to assist in the management of membership and event tracking functions for organizations such as chambers of commerce and any nonprofit organization. Its various modules also assist with other aspects of their business including financial and reporting procedures. “The most important asset is your members,” said Thornton. “The reMEMBER software provides the tools to service your members with the most efficient and highest level of productivity.”

The program allows users to compile detailed profiles of their membership with features to track referrals, keep detailed comments and generate mailings. Included is a monthly calendar option to track the attendance, planning and budgeting of special events. A financial module provides options for the invoicing of membership dues, event billing, product sales and tracking yearly versus monthly budgeting variances and other financial transactions.

The software also assists in generating new members by keeping directory listings and displaying event calendars online via the Internet for up to date information to the public. New members can enroll online as well.

“The reMEMBER program gives organizations an opportunity to increase their membership levels and retention with easy to use software. The members’ information is available at their fingertips. We allow organizations to work smarter not harder,” Thornton said.

“This has been a benefit to us,” Solomon said. “It is a great program and it can change the way chambers relate to their members. It is efficient and allows us to respond quickly. It is a powerful program with nothing like it on the market.”

Solomon said it is like creating an additional person. “It is very forward thinking,” he added. Revenues for the software in 1999 were $10,000 with projected revenues this year at $40,000 to $50,000. McCann said the company’s consulting business completely financed the product.