DESIGNS FOR SUCCESS
LEADERSHIP 2: Membership

MEMBERSHIP
(Click on link above to download pdf format brochure)

recruiting new members
An integral step in developing your organization is building its membership. To recruit new members, student organizations need to:

1. ASSESS needs and TARGET AUDIENCE.
2. ATTRACT people to the organization.
3. GIVE members REASONS TO STAY once they are there.

assessment
Before the actual recruitment begins, spend some time with current membership, defining the purpose of the organization and identifying the benefits of membership in the organization. It’s helpful to be able to tell potential members what the organization does, and what they will gain from their involvement with it.

It’s also helpful to examine why people get involved. Look at what motivated current members to join. Try to think what would interest YOU in getting involved in the organization. Below are some reasons why people choose to become involved:

• to feel needed and/or important
• to use their creativity
• to be in a power position
• to receive recognition
• to build their resume
• to identify with a cause
• to become part of a group
• to have fun
• to be challenged
• to develop skills
• to have new experiences
• to make social contacts
• to bring about social change

attracting members
After an organization assesses its needs the actual recruitment campaign begins. Here are some methods:

• Talk to friends, RAs or other people who would be interested in the activities of the organization or know people who may be interested. Emphasize personal contact because it is a primary way people become involved.
• Use every available resource—radio, television, newspapers and personal contacts (ask your adviser for more information). Send out general notices detailing your organization’s activities and newspaper advertisements inviting students to join the organization (see Designs for Success Programming series for publicity resources). Keep notices short and appealing. Include some of the benefits of membership.
• Get all active members involved in thinking up new methods for recruiting. Perhaps make each current member responsible for bringing one new member to the next meeting.
• Offer stimulating, in-depth orientation sessions to any interested people.
• Take part in the Student Organization Activities Expo.
• Once initial contact with new members is made, follow up with a phone call to get them involved, and make certain they feel they are an integral part of the organization.

retention of members
Recruiting members is only half of the process. It is equally important to retain members. Pay attention to the behavior of new members. They are likely to feel a bit anxious and uncertain about their involvement. When left floundering in this state, new members often disappear from organizations. Make them feel welcome and comfortable. For instance:

• Discourage cliques among old members.
• Learn new members’ names and help them to learn the names of others.
• Use icebreaker and teambuilding exercises to help new members get to know old members.
• Maintain and share an up-to-date membership list complete with contact information.
• Give new members information about your organization: what it is currently involved in, how it functions, and something about its past history.
• Give new members some direction in their involvement. Assign them a task, ask for their input and reward them for their contributions!
• Assess what makes volunteers happy, successful and what promotes their further development.
  1. Conduct interviews.
  2. Administer a questionnaire that inquires about their motivational and developmental needs and wants.
  3. Conduct a group discussion with other new volunteers and organizational members.
• Continually assess the involvement of members. It is helpful to maintain a task worksheet for each program to identify what needs to be done and by whom. Store these records so you can assure that everyone in the organization has the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of a program at some time throughout the year.

To utilize members’ skills and abilities to the fullest, leaders must know how to motivate members. Several means of motivating volunteers include:

• praising achievement
• recognizing accomplishments
• providing challenging work
• increasing responsibility
• encouraging individual growth and development

Know what your members want. Understanding why members are involved in your organization can help you place them in an appropriate position.