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Robbie Motter says…

Category: It's All About Showing Up Stories

Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009

"Showing up is a great way to recruit new members and is the key to success for your organization"

New members bring ideas and enthusiasm to an organization. However as demands on our time increases, so does the competition for membership. If everyone out there is seeking members, how can your group be successful?

I. How Many Members Do You Want?

A. Set a goal � How many members do you want to bring in each month?

-- During the coming year?

B. Establish meeting dates, times and formats which are especially appropriate for first

time prospective members � first impressions are so important!

C. Prepare to explain your organization�s mission or purpose � in brief easy-to-

understand terms.

II. Ask Yourself Some Questions

A. "Should prospective member meetings feature guest speakers, training, or special

entertainment? Should they resemble business-as-usual or be strictly a Prospective

Member Open House?"

B. "What are the benefits of membership?"

C. "What are the duties of members/volunteers? How much time is required? What

level of commitment is expected?"

D. "Are there any special talents or skills which the organizations particularly needs or

values?"

E. "How were members (or volunteers) previously recruited?"

III. Develop a Strategy

A. After taking the time to be thoughtful about your organization, you will be in a better

position to really know just what type of membership you have and what type of

people would make your group perform even better. You will recruit more

effectively once you are able to provide meaningful information abut your group to

membership prospects.

B. Organizations too often use a "shotgun"approach which amounts to little more than

bodies filling a meeting hall. Truly successful groups have diverse memberships,

allowing for more creativity, increased access to the community or area served, and a

generally more positive group experience for everyone involved.

IV. Establish a Membership Recruitment Committee

In order to be most effective, the recruiting process needs to involve your entire organization. Current members should be excited about being part of your group; current members should want to help select new members. There are a few steps that you can take to ensure that the recruiting process is successful and meaningful.

A. Review literature (handouts and flyers as well as brochures) describing your group. If

there is either a large quantity of marketing materials to review � or too little � set up

a committee to handle their creation or revision.

B. Is your organization adequately and accurately described? (Tip: you might be

surprised how many people discard or ignore information containing typing errors or

misspelled words.)

C. Is a name and phone number provided, and is it the appropriate person to handle

membership inquiries?

D. Remember that whatever you give prospective members is often your organizations�

most tangible contact with them and their associates.

E. Is your association or organization listed on meetingsandmixers.com or other online

calendars and directories? If not, go to their sites and enter your network and meeting

dates. Make sure this listing is revised after new officers are elected and whenever a

phone number or mailing address changes.

V. Use "the Power of the Press"

Generate press releases. Let your community know about upcoming meeting dates and events sponsored by your organization. (Tip: one of the positions in your organization could be one responsible solely for �public relations.�)

A. List publications � weekly as well as daily papers � serving your area. Don�t hesitate

to call and ask if they will publicize your membership drive.

B. Compile a list of local radio and television stations. Many broadcast public service

announcements ("PSAs") free of charge. Track down "community access" cable

channels which exist to inform your local community.

C. Your "public relations" person or team should develop contacts at those publications

and broadcasting stations which recognize the importance of community affairs.

Then you can reach your regular contacts at a moment�s notice when you have a

celebrity guest speaker or a special event.

VI. Showing Up and Networking at the Group to Group Level

Check out other organizations and events in your area. Does the Chamber of Commerce sponsor a business mixer? How about street fairs, festivals, etc.? Such events provide an opportunity to inform new people about your group. It�s the type of people you need regularly to attend a certain public function, organize a team of your members to be there with your recruitment literature.

VII. It�s the Most Powerful Resource You Have!

A. Most importantly, use the most powerful resource you have � your current members!

The best way to get new people is by word of mouth through experienced participants

and their family members.

B. Make sure everyone knows they are always welcome to bring guests to meetings and

functions.

C. When you sense some prodding is needed, ask members to turn in a list of the people

they know who might be suited for your organization. Follow-up by scheduling an

Open House or similar "prospective member" event.

D. Don"t be afraid to rely on current members. This is not a chore for members who are

proud of their affiliation with your organization.

VIII. How to Get Current Members Involved

A. Ask members to list 5 reasons they enjoy being part of your club.

B. Put members names in your club newsletter in recognition of their efforts to introduce

new people to your group.

C. Make it fun! Start a membership drive. Divide your current members into teams and

let their competitive spirit accelerate your club growth. The losing team can provide

a barbecue for the winners � you�ll not only increase membership, this will also

strengthen friendships within the club.

D. Learn more about your members. Develop a �rap� sheet for everyone to fill out.

You�ll discover you have a group with hidden talents and diverse interest. There is

no better way to get more members than to make the ones you have an important part

of your organization. They�ll tell their friends without even being asked if you take

the time to make being a member a rewarding experience. You can also benefit by

knowing which members are really closet graphic artists just dying to do the artwork

for newsletters and brochures.

E. Ask, ask, ask. The Power is in the Asking! My experience has always been that some

people are afraid to jump in and volunteer, especially if others in the club are always

quick to do so. They may feel unwanted and not needed, which of course is never the

case! ASK everyone to be a part of something. Include a choice of different

activities on sign-up sheets � people who don�t want to be a part of the fundraising

committee might jump at a chance to recruit speakers or to organize a pot luck picnic,

etc.

F. Educate. We have all been part of a club, association or organization that we knew

very little about. You cannot expect uninformed members to recruit additional

members effectively. Keep no secrets � if you require an initiation fee, every current

member should know what that money is used for. Their friend might ask, and if

your member isn�t sure it might not only leave the prospective member with doubts, it

might also create them in the current member�s mind.

IX. Now Get Out There and RECRUIT and SHOW UP

A. Making your organization successful requires persistence, organization, and more

than just a little hard work. Increasing membership in your club takes effort from

everyone, but the rewards are well worth it.

B. In today�s society, service clubs provide children and other less privileged individuals

with opportunities they would otherwise never experience, while professional

organizations offering mentoring, friendships and networking can prove to be

invaluable on the path to a better and more rewarding career.

C. Whatever the purpose of your group, it would benefit from a larger, more diverse, and

more involved membership. People join and volunteer for a wide variety of reasons.

Make sure that you recognize and encourage your members, old and new. Start

organizing. Get the word out. Communicate with your membership and SHOW UP.

X. Most Importantly, BEGIN TODAY!

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