DECEMBER 2006 - SHARE THE GOOD
Everyone seems to talk about membership around the first of the year, and the Grange is no exception. There are two types of people we need to be focused on as we end this year and prepare to start a new one. Current members and potential members should be front and center in our actions to share the good things in our Grange. No matter what your Grange is doing, there are good things that your members often take for granted or overlooks.
Share with your current members what the benefits of being a member are in your Grange. Each member should see some value to themselves. The more value they see in the Grange the quicker and easier collecting next year’s dues will be. The more positive impact the Grange has in their lives, the better ambassadors they will be for your Grange.
Potential members need to see that your members are having some of their needs met in your Grange. When they see pride, satisfaction, or even simple friendships, they are seeing value. We must share with potential members how the Grange could fill some of their needs. We can adapt to include the things that they want to do. Many people are looking for the good things in the Grange, but don’t know we have them.
Share the good things in your Grange and you will find it is easier to gain new members and keep your current members.
NOVEMBER 2006 - USE THE TOOLS
Do you really want new members? If you do, then it is time to use at least one of the tools provided by your State or National Grange. When you take a new tool to your Grange and propose using it, you wake people up, you inspire members, and you reinforce the idea that others want to help.
There are several tools that the Leadership/Membership department has for your use. A new Idea Book with 86 different ideas from 10 different states is downloadable from the web site and each State Master has a copy of it. A Lecturer’s Program Guide is available to your Grange in the same fashion as the idea book. More than 35 powerpoint presentations are available upon your request on leadership and membership development topics.
National Grange will also provide brochures for your use, each state has a variety of materials and programs to help you, and many Pomona’s will supply you with help when you ask for it. If you really want new members, it is time to start using some of the tools that are available to you. Contact Ed Luttrell at membership@nationalgrange.org or contact your State Master/President or Membership Director to learn about any and all of the tools available to you. It all begins with you starting action in your Grange!
Use the tools available to your Grange and you will find it is easier to attract new members.
OCTOBER 2006 - LOOK IN THE MIRROR
Ever wonder why your Grange isn’t bringing in more new members? The person responsible is the one looking back at you in the mirror. Responsibility means you must be a leader in recruiting new members.
To be a leader, you must create a welcoming atmosphere in your Grange. What happens when a person walks in the door? What happens when a member stands up and proposes something new and different? If the members of your Grange don’t introduce themselves and welcome all visitors and new people and if they don’t take a proposal and give it consideration and look for ways to do it, you need to create a new attitude in your Grange. Leaders create new attitudes by having them.
With a great attitude, it is necessary for you to show the way by talking to nonmembers about your Grange. Brag about something to people you know outside the Grange. Tell nonmembers what you are doing at the Grange. Talking about Grange to people will require most members to step outside their comfort zone. As a leader, you must set the example in sharing the Grange message outside your Grange.
Look in the mirror and take responsibility and you will find it is easier to attract new members in your Grange.
SEPTEMBER 2006 - START A CAMPAIGN
As we are in the middle of an election season, perhaps we should take some lessons from the politicians. There are some basic principles with any campaign. You want your name in front of the public, in as positive manner and as often as possible. You want your ideas and what you stand for clearly defined. You want people to choose to support you. While people will not see your Grange on the ballot, these principles will also work for recruiting new members.
To get your Grange name in front of people, there are a number of tools. Advertise all your events with flyers, radio, free TV announcements, and especially by members talking about your activities. Your members are the single best source of promotion that your Grange has. They need to tell people about what is coming up and brag about what has happened.
Take the time to talk as a Grange about what the core or key values of your Grange are. Is having fun, welcoming families, socializing, doing community service, or supporting young people part of your values? If your members don’t know what the core values are, they can’t tell others about them. Also talk about where the Grange is going. For some people it is sometimes far easier to talk about what is in the works than what you’ve been doing.
Start a membership campaign in your Grange and you will find people choosing to be a new member.
AUGUST 2006 - GIVE OUT CONTACT INFORMATION
When was the last time someone called or emailed you and asked how to join your Grange? It will not happen unless your contact information is available. It is time for your Grange to get contact information out into the public. There are a number of effective ways of letting your community know how to contact a Grange member.
Make a brochure that includes names and numbers on it or make labels with the information to place on national or state brochures. Create a website for your Grange. Make business cards that each member can carry and put their contact information on. Place contact information on your Grange building or at your meeting place. Provide contact information to your local chamber of commerce, fire and police departments, and city hall annually.
When your Grange puts out contact information, make sure that you list a persons email or phone number who is positive. It is crucial that whoever represents your Grange understands that they must be positive and a good listener. When someone calls, we have to meet their needs if we are going to get them to join.
When you give out contact information for your Grange, you will significantly increase the opportunity to gain new members for your Grange.
JULY 2006 - BE THANKFUL
Very little of our attitude is communicated by our words, but mostly by body language, tone of voice, and expression. If you want to communicate a great attitude that will attract new members start by being thankful for what your Grange has.
When you are looking for things to be thankful for, it is much harder to be negative. Your attitude will improve and all the subtle parts of your communication to others will be more positive. As you focus on the good and great things in your Grange, you will see more and more that you can be proud of. Thank God, thank your fellow members, thank concerned citizens, thank yourself.
It is also important for your fellow members to see that you're looking for what is working and right in your Grange, rather than they see someone who is looking for mistakes and errors. Those fellow members are the ones that create public perception of your Grange. A Grange that is looking for the good in everything is a growing Grange.
Be thankful for what you've got in your Grange and watch your Grange grow!
JUNE 2006 - WORK TOGETHER
Asking someone to join the Grange can be a little scary to many members. That is because they haven't done it in years or maybe ever. That is why it is important to work together to recruit new members.
There is strength in numbers, especially when you ask someone to join. Having a partner, or even two, will help you be successful in asking people to join your Grange. You will gain confidence because you know the other member or members will help you out if you forget something or are at a loss for words.
Another advantage to working together is that "your team" will help each other stay on track and to identify the potential members' needs. Then you can share how your Grange can fill those needs. A final benefit is that when the person decides to join, all of you will feel accomplishment and may be willing to do it again soon, perhaps by yourself.
Work together to ask people to join and watch your Grange grow.
MAY 2006 - EXPECT SUCCESS
People want to belong to a winning team. One important component of a winning team is that they expect success. Not only do they want to win, but they believe that with hard work they are going to win. In your Grange, winning means that we will successfully fill needs in our members and in the community.
Expecting success begins with your attitude. A why not, let's try it, we will find a way, of course we can, attitude leads to success. Negativity will always take you away from achievement. Potential members are attracted by an attitude that we are successful and will be successful into the future.
The second aspect of expecting success is that you have to expend effort in order to be successful. You hold an extra meeting, you spend a little extra time planning, you ask someone to participate, or you try something new. A little hard work doesn't ensure success, but without that dedicated work, success can be very elusive.
Expect success in your Grange and watch the incredible happen!
APRIL 2006 - TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE
Do your fellow members ever talk about the challenges facing your Grange as if we can't do anything about them? If you want new members, it's time to take control of your Grange's future.
Taking control means you accept the responsibility for the success or failure of your Grange. This is a powerful way to change your attitude toward the future of your Grange. When you are responsible, you will look for new ideas or even new focuses and goals for your Grange. Responsibility also gives pride to you as you have successes, no matter how small.
Taking control means you can't blame others. You are accountable to yourself to do things that will attract new members. It also means that you will ask for help when needed. When you accept responsibility, you will find it is also a terrific time to start building teams which will also join you in taking control of the future of your Grange.
Take control of the future of your Grange and growth will follow!
MARCH 2006 - TELL SOMEBODY SOMETHING GOOD
Are you worried about getting new members? Are you afraid they might say that they are not interested? Then set yourself a reasonable and achievable goal. Tell somebody who is not a member something good about your Grange every day. Don’t fret about the big things, just talk about the little things that make you feel good.
Talk about the unusual or great dish at the potluck. Tell the joke that you heard at Grange and say you heard it at your meeting. Talk about the community service project or the reason for doing a fund-raiser. Pass on the good news about your fellow members, who is doing better, who was honored, whatever is positive in their lives. Share what activities are upcoming in your Grange.
If you make an effort to merely tell others about the good things in your Grange, there will be two effects. First, you will become more positive and enthusiastic. Second, sooner or later, the person or people you talk to will ask about this organization that you speak so highly of.
Tell somebody something good about your Grange every day and make growth happen!
FEBRUARY 2006 - BE AN ENABLER
Ever hear someone talk about an enabler? Usually this refers to a person who allows someone to do something that is not good for them. However, in your Grange, you should be an enabler for growth in your fellow members.
An enabler will find ways to fill the needs of his or her fellow members. They will teach others how to make motions, write resolutions, or how to express themselves to create action. They will take time to show the new member the ropes of how to get things done in their Grange.
Enablers give recognition to others as a tool to help people grow. They celebrate achievements of others both inside and out of the Grange. They are always positive in their outlook. Enablers give encouragement and suggestions to help and assist to every member.
Become an enabler in your Grange and watch your fellow members create growth!
JANUARY
2006 - RECOGNIZE YOUR MEMBERS
It is far easier to get new members when your current membership feels that they are important to the organization. If you want members to feel valued, the first step is to recognize their achievements.
Recognize their service. There are two basic ways to recognize our member’s service. We can celebrate when they reach a certain number of years of membership and when they complete a term or terms of service as an officer. National Grange recognizes membership with 25 year and 50 year awards, and both have consecutive and non consecutive programs. However, your Grange could make a first year, 10 year or any other time period recognition. Be creative! Often we give credit to past Masters, but fail to recognize other officers. Make a tradition in your Grange that recognizes every officer.
Recognize their achievements and milestones. Take the time to celebrate when a member wins a Pomona or State Grange award or contest. Expand that to include whenever a member is recognized by other groups. It is also important to note the milestones that a member reaches. When was the last time your Grange celebrated with a member who had reached retirement or had graduated from college?
Recognize your members in your Grange and make growth happen!
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2006 Membership Tip Archives