Membership Forum

PRESENTORSMaureen Wesley Detroit Chapter

NCCS President

Cheryle Mackie Stuart Chapter NCCS Vice President Membership

Ellen O’Brien Pittsburgh Chapter NCCS Vice President Program

Membership RecruitmentMembership EngagementMembership Recognition

Membership Recruitment

Questions your Chapter may want to ask before you begin:

Why do individuals volunteer?What type of individual does your chapter want to

attract?What type of individual is attracted to your chapter?

Why do individuals volunteer?

There are literally hundreds of reasons:

To donate their skills to help someone To make new friends To be challenged To feel good To have fun

Just to name a few….

ALWAYS REMEMBER

VOLUNTEERING IS A FREE TIME ACTIVITY

What are the benefits of Membership in your chapter?

TWO QUESTIONS THAT ARE INTER-RELATED

What type of individual does your Chapter want to attract?

What type of individual is presently attracted to your Chapter?

Consider as Your Chapter Prepares for Recruitment

There is an interconnection between Membership Development and Publicity and

Marketing

IMAGE ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED

Consider your Chapters “reputation” in the community and who your competition is

Consider the tone of your collateral materials and website

Consider your demographic make-up

Consider as Your Chapter Prepares for Recruitment

There is an interconnection between Membership Development and

Program

PROGRAM ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED

Consider the image of your service and the image of your client group

Are your programs and projects designed with the potential to attract the members you most want?

Are your programs meaningful to maximize benefits for members?

TECHNIQUES FOR MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT

These are techniques we have heard from YOU—the Chapters

Word of mouthMembership coffees, teas, and dinnersParish bulletinsMembership SundaysParish representativesAnnual Bring a Friend Meeting

IN ADDITION

Collateral materialsFollow up with interested parties

Included in your binder is the Member Interaction Assessment provided by Susan Ellis

Use of fund raisers as a recruitment opportunity

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

Every Chapter has the challenge of keeping members engaged, taking a new member from

joining to volunteering.

TECHNIQUES TO OPTIMIZE SUCCESS WITH NEW MEMBERS

Provide a clear picture of the activities of your Chapter

Provide guidance to new membersProvide means of evaluation

TECHNIQUES TO COMMUNICATE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Simple individual ask is almost 100% successfulWeekly emails with volunteer opportunitiesVolunteer coordinatorSpecial membership mailing to members who

have not volunteered in 12 monthsConsistent time when members can “drop in” to

work on a Chapter activity that needs extra hands

VOLUNTEERS WANTDefined rolesClear goalsTraining / instruction/ orientationInformation (Skilled volunteers want

information)RecognitionCoachingSufficient resourcesFellowship / Reaction

TECHNIQUES TO PROMOTE AN ENRICHING AND PLEASANT EXPERIENCE

“Friend raising” as a intricate part of membershipProgram evaluation should consider the relevance of

program to members as well as clientsSpeakers from social service agencies can be part of

general meetingMembers need to be provided social and spiritual

activities to encourage fellowshipMake activities collaborative

STRATEGIES TO KEEPMEMBERS ACTIVE

Diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of the engagement of members and make a plan to encourage involvement

Assess the impact of burn out in leadership roles

Me MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION

Volunteers can never can never be thanked enough!

KEY ELEMENTS

Thank program volunteers and chairpersons publicly and by name

Thank volunteers as intermediate goals are met not just at the end

OPPORTUNITIES TO THANK VOLUNTEERS

General meetingsWebsiteNewsletterSalute long standing members at general

meeting or special events

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Lifetime AchievementVolunteer of the YearAwards for special tasksUnsung hero award