I’m not getting membership emails (or other COA email correspondence).
Answer: First, look in your Spam or Junk folder. Mark anything misclassified as Not Spam. Add membership@ctbirding.org to your email contacts. COA sends most correspondence from that email address. Also, many email apps now classify your email depositing it into various Inbox tabs which may go unnoticed – especially on a phone. Look for COA email under these tabs too. COA cannot force email to appear in your primary Inbox tab. Search your email app help documentation or read our Email Problems? page for further assistance. If you send an email to membership@ctbirding.org we will try our best to help you find your email.
How long does a membership last?
Answer: Except for Life memberships, the duration of a new or renewed paid membership is one year from the day you join or renew. Renewals, for members who have an active membership, add an additional full year to their current expiration date so you may renew anytime. Lapsed membership renewals begin on the day you renew and end one year later. Members may log in to their COA account to check their current membership status and expiration date.
May I join/renew for more than one year?
Answer: Yes. Each time you purchase a membership (all levels) one full year is added to your COA membership. However, you must start a new payment transaction for every additional membership year.
Will I be notified before my membership expires?
Answer: You will be notified by email a few weeks before your membership expires. We will also send email reminders after your membership expires. We no longer send hardcopy membership reminders.
What happens when my membership expires?
Answer: If/when your membership expires you no longer have access to Members Only content, and you will not receive any newly published copies of The Connecticut Warbler. Note: We will not mail back issues of our publications if you should rejoin COA. If you want to avoid missing issues, don’t let your membership lapse. Current members may access online copies of the most recent issues on the Members Only page and issues greater than 2 years old here.
Is my membership fee tax deductible?
Answer: COA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization and your contribution may be tax deductible as allowed under the law. We do not offer tax advice regarding the deductibility of memberships.
Can I join/renew by mail?
Answer: Online purchase is easy and preferred, but we accept membership by US Mail too. Mail-in memberships are active from the day the they are entered into our system, which may be 2-4 weeks from the mailing date. Download the mail-in form here. To enjoy the full benefits of your membership you must have and share an email address. A COA account with your contact information is necessary, and the activation process is outlined here. New members should create a COA account, but we can assist if necessary. We use your email account to share quarterly COA Bulletin notifications, annual meeting notifications, special events, and other important COA correspondence including membership renewals. We no longer use the US Mail for COA correspondence as an environmental conservation measure, and because it is expensive and labor-intensive.