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Recruitment of MembersTip #1 - Don't be "other centered." Tip #1 - Don't be "other centered."If you are finding it difficult to recruit and retain members
to your organization, ask why? What is it about the organization
that makes it unappealing? We have a tendency to look externally
for the reasons, i.e., "Everyone is too busy" or "he/she
needs to spend more time on their studies." Which may be
true, however, if you find these reasons used often, I would
challenge you to take a look INTERNALLY as well.
Tip #2 - Get organized and stay organizedSince students want to join motivated organizations, they will not for the most part stick with organizations that are in disarray, where the leaders seem unorganized, or where the members seem unsure of the plan. Make sure everyone involved in your organization is aware of and committed to the recruitment process, is prepared to answer questions, and feels comfortable talking about the organization to prospective members. It is the entire organization’s responsibility to recruit new members; work as a team to accomplish your membership and recruitment goals. Tip #3 - Recruitment is an on-going process
It isn't something that you only do at the beginning of the
semester. If your organization gets involved in Homecoming,
that is a recruitment and
image development opportunity; if you co-sponsor or collaborate on a program
with another group or participate in a community service opportunity with
other non-members that is a recruitment and image development opportunity.
Use those opportunities to educate people about your organization. All members
should be prepared to answer the question, "tell me about your club,
what do you do?" Can your current members do that and is the message
consistent?
Tip #4 - Make sure your group is worth the time to joinIf I'm a new member is there something I can do that can give me a sense of accomplishment? Is the only way to actually be "active" in your organization is to be an officer? A common complaint I hear from younger members is besides going to meetings and putting up fliers there is nothing for general members to do unless you decide to stick with the organization and become an officer. Does that sound like fun to you? Empower your members, give them responsibility and the opportunity to practice their leadership skills. This not only will increase their confidence level but will also make them more experienced officers in the future.
Tip #5 - Create a positive and welcoming environmentKnow your members names; know your members needs; personal contact is key - email is great and it's easy but if you really want to keep your members and show that you value them - you must work toward more personal contact. Does your exec board know people's names? If you are saying there are just too many members then it is even more important to have personal contact. Students want to feel important and that they are appreciated. By knowing your members, it shows that you care and that this person matters to you regardless of the importance of their job. Structure your meetings so everyone feels comfortable. When discussing issues or brainstorming allow for individual reflection and group discussion in order to accommodate the different processing styles of introverts and extroverts. Be aware of, respect, and understand cultural differences students may be accustomed to and incorporate them into your meetings. If the age of your members varies greatly, keep in mind that their needs will be very different, and discuss how your organization will work to meet those needs. Lastly, create an environment where members are secure with sharing their opinion even when it differs from the leadership or with the majority opinion. Disagreements and conflicts if handled in a professional and respectful way make organizations stronger. Strive to have a very diverse membership base. Different perspectives, experiences, and life styles will make the organization stronger as long as everyone is working toward the same vision and working toward accomplishing the same goals.
Tip #6 - Recruitment is not one person's jobAlthough one person may need to coordinate efforts, EVERYONE should be responsible for maintaining and sustaining membership. Your recruitment campaign should include specific techniques and tasks to be accomplished, a timeline, and an indication of who will be responsible for completing each task.
Tip #7- The GRAPE PrincipleGRAPE is the acronym for the five most common reasons students
join student organizations. It's important to ask everyone though
to make sure you understand your members needs and ask them each
year, since member's needs will change.
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