MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT
ACT in OCT | Mining For Members | Holding a Membership Drive | Club Information Display
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Are YOU planning to ACT in OCT ?
In 2003, GFWC initiated its first
nationwide membership recruiting campaign,
ACT in OCT, encouraging all GFWC clubs to
organize recruiting ACTivities in OCTober.
“Recruit 3 in October ’03 ” ~ 2163 new members
“5 to Thrive in October ‘05” ~
2652 new members
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going….
5 More Would Be Divine In October '09 Clubs reporting success to GFWC before December 1 will be listed in GFWC Clubwoman magazine. Reporting Instructions |
MINING FOR MEMBERS
At the 1996 September GFWC
Board Meeting, Susan Ellis, of Energize, Inc., encouraged attendees (including
GFWC state membership chairmen) to think beyond the known boundaries for sources
of potential members.
The group was broken out into smaller sections, each was given a "member
type" to look for, and lists were compiled for each group.
What follows are exact copies of those lists.
Because there were two groups for each "member type," there will be some
duplication. These are offered to you as a resource
and a challenge. Look at your own
community and think creatively about where potential members can be found. Then .....
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WOMEN WITH INTEREST IN
LITERACY? Reading teachers Pre‑schools Adult education centers (staff) Literacy volunteer agencies Government literacy agencies
Libraries PTA Community Colleges Teacher's association
Schools of Education Professional business associations Chamber of Commerce Church education groups Retired teacher groups Book clubs Bookstores Newspaper offices Publishing companies Office of Immigration
Speech & hearing therapists Writers/writers' associations Friends of Libraries Early childhood education association Children's hospitals Family courts Juvenile courts Prison system Education sororities Day care centers Large corporations Learning disabilities program Head Start programs Boy/Girl Scouts Church youth ministries Librarians
Retired elementary teachers County councils - literacy English as Second Language teachers Substitute teachers Mentoring programs Big Sisters/Big Brothers Braille institutes
Theater/drama groups Social workers Senior citizen centers School Board offices Special Education teachers/retirees GED instructors Foster parents School volunteers/PTA
College remedial |
WOMEN WITH INTEREST IN
HEALTH ISSUES? Cancer
Survivors
Employees of Health
Units Nurses Doctors' offices (ob/gyn) Families who have used hospice Social Services PTA/PTO Fitness clubs and/or instructors Nutritionist/Dietician
Nursing Schools Physical/Occupational Therapists Psychologists Retirement Homes AARP Women legislators Candy stripers/pink ladies Hospital Auxiliaries DARE (local chapter) Health food stores Libraries/Bookstores with self-help/health
sections Farmers markets Food co-ops Grocery stores Mental health centers Weight Watchers Exercise equipment/clothing stores Support groups for women who have lost loved
ones through illness Home health providers Area agency on aging Doctors’ wives Medical personnel Pharmacists School nurses Health insurance Camp counselors Grief support (all kinds) Clinics Planned Parenthood Politicians YWCA County extension Teachers (health/vocational) Health & Human Services Adult day care Veterinarians Survivors |
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WHERE CAN WE FIND NEW
RESIDENTS? Churches/Religious Institutions Realtors/Rental Agents Utility Company Welcome Wagon/Newcomers Newspapers Voter Registration Homeowners’ Association Chamber of Commerce Senior Center Corporate Contacts Schools Retirement Communities Department of Motor Vehicles Employment Services Grocery Stores (information on bags) Libraries Banks YWCA/YMCA Doctor/Dentist offices Museums Restaurants Beauty Salons Post 0ffice Colleges/Community Colleges |
WOMEN WHO HAVE
ORGANIZING SKILLS? Elementary teachers Special events planners Secretaries Self-employed Non-profit health organizations Youth group leaders Theater groups Conferences Office administrators Caterers Fund-raising coordinators Seminar organizers Political campaign organizers Past presidents of other groups Media (TV-radio) program planners Motivational speakers bureau Social directors for senior housing Receptionists Executive directors/managers United Way coordinators University management departments Labor unions Day care center directors
Mothers with large families Working mothers |
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PRE-RETIREMENT WORKING
WOMEN? Schools/teachers Doctor/Dentist offices Corporate personnel departments Campaign headquarters Dance classes Aerobic classes Churches Hospitals Health clubs Beauty/nail salons Night schools
AARP meetings School/college computer classes Theater volunteers/ushers Military installations
Travel agents (cruises) Singles group Professional organizations Tupperware parties
Adult communities Arts volunteers Garden clubs Social Security Office Social Services Libraries
Lobbies of big apartment buildings Retirement homes Real estate offices Stock market clubs
Golf courses Craft groups Newspapers Banks RV clubs Word of mouth Personnel Department of schools Health workers (hospitals) Civil Service workers 50+ clubs Exercise clubs Senior Citizen discount days (at stores) Realtors for retirement communities Financial Planning workshops Pre-retirement workshops Menopause workshops |
WOMEN AVAILABLE IN THE
DAYTIME (Mon-Fri)? Second/Third shift employees (hospitals, factories, hotels, airports)
Church groups that meet in the daytime Shopping centers/grocery stores Senior citizen luncheons Health clubs Golf courses/tennis clubs Self-employed who set own schedule College students Retirement homes Hospital auxiliaries Pre-schools Parks Neighbors Beauty salons Doctors' offices Other volunteer organizations Senior citizen centers YWCA Park district Community education Bowling alleys Libraries Craft stores
Travel clubs Corporations with volunteers Coffee shops Real estate offices
Veterinarians' offices PTA |
AND THAT'S JUST THE
BEGINNING! Does your
club need an organized woman with an interest in literacy? Find a category that appears on both
lists and start from there. These
lists are just flurries before your own brainstorm!
Use these lists after
conducting a Club Self Study.
Once a club knows who they are, and what they do (or want to do), these
lists will prompt some thinking about where to go to find the help to accomplish
their goals and meet their membership needs.
9/96
HOLDING A
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
PURPOSE
A means of contacting potential members for your
club
PRE-PREPARATION
Before undertaking any type of drive, set goals
for the number of new members needed and have an ample supply of
professional-looking brochures, fact sheets, etc., to distribute.
NEVER GIVE OUT TOO MUCH AT
ONCE. Your materials just need to
explain who you are and what you do.
WHERE AND WHEN
Plan your drive to coincide with a town event,
such as a fair, sidewalk sale, etc., or on the date of your club’s anniversary
celebration.
In good weather, a table can be manned on a main
street in your town, preferably outside a building that attracts passersby, such
as a library, store, post office, etc.
If you are targeting a specific group, such as
young mothers, consider a table close to an area where young children are being
registered for nursery school or camp.
If you are looking for retired persons, set up
in areas where they are likely to congregate.
At certain times of the year, consider a table
inside the library or local shopping center.
Consider holding an event such as a bake sale,
plant sale or book sale in conjunction with the membership drive as an added
draw.
PREPARATION
SEVERAL MONTHS IN ADVANCE:
- Obtain necessary permissions
- Design and prepare a display of club
information
SEVERAL WEEKS IN ADVANCE:
- Prepare posters and flyers advertising your
drive
- Prepare and submit press
releases
- Contact local cable and radio stations with
your announcements
DAY OF DRIVE:
- Set up eye‑catching display
of club materials, including press releases concerning club events and two or
three photograph displays showing members in action.
- Staff the table with
smiling, enthusiastic, knowledgeable club members who have plenty of club
brochures and fact sheets to hand out.
Offer, don't overwhelm!
- Have a book handy to collect names and
addresses
POST‑DRIVE:
- FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP!
Text reprinted from the GFWC First Aid Kit for
Clubs in Crisis
CLUB INFORMATION DISPLAY
PURPOSE
To advertise club in the community
To provide an opportunity for news releases and
media coverage that will give recognition and exposure to the club
PLANNING
Research possible sites for a display, including
the library, municipal complex, banks
Investigate possibilities of locked display
cases, at above sites for security of materials
An open area will, by necessity, limit the
contents of your display
If given a choice, choose a site that affords,
maximum exposure in the shortest time
Arrange for permission, dates, time of set up,
etc.
SET UP
Form a committee to assemble
materials that best explain the purpose of your club. Include awards, proclamations, fact
sheets, newsletters, yearbook, donation beneficiaries and thank you letters,
photographs showing members in action and having fun working on community
projects, press releases, etc.
Items should be attractively and clearly labeled
with club name prominently placed.
Dates, place, time of meetings and an invitation
to attend should be displayed.
Club brochures and fact sheets should be
available as handouts.
PRESS RELEASE
Prepare a news release concerning your display
Contact newspapers to invite a
photographer to come to the display. If not, take your own photograph and submit with a club
caption.
Have display listed on the community calendar,
town newsletter, library, local "what’s happening” column, etc.
Prepare PSA (public service announcement) for
radio and local cable.
Don't forget a thank you after
the event. It could be in the form
of an open thank you note in the newspaper.
Text reprinted from the GFWC First Aid Kit for Clubs in Crisis