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We have all attended a new organization’s event for the first time. Even in the most professional of associations, uncertainty arises. New members often ask:

“Will I fit in?”

“How can I benefit from participation?”

“How will I contribute to the organization?”

“Will I enjoy attending their events?”

For associations and their local chapters, the goal is not only to grow membership by enrolling new members, but also to keep members coming back. Both general members and member leadership share in the responsibility of engaging new members. Let’s take a look at 4 key elements to develop new member inclusion.

1. Welcome New Members.

It may seem a simple step, but approaching new members and welcoming them to your chapter goes a long way to encourage new members to stick around. Anyone can reach out, but why leave it to chance? Build an orientation team or a welcoming committee whose main purpose is to welcome new members and announce the new members in the monthly newsletter and on the chapter’s website. This way you know your new members are receiving the attention they deserve.

And this works with new prospects as well. Feeling welcomed may just be the behavior that translates those maybes into yeses. Take a look at some other ideas for converting prospects into members.

2. Meetings Should Not Feel Like Just Another Meeting. 

Whether you are planning a monthly chapter meeting or an annual conference, new members, as well as current members and prospects, want not only to feel as if they have joined the right chapter, but also to enjoy their time in a productive manner, learning and growing for the betterment of their professional lives.

Creating the right atmosphere for the needs of your members is the first ingredient for success. To ensure this, you can use the survey capabilities built in to your StarChapter software to canvass current membership regarding what activities they want to participate in. Implement those ideas during upcoming meetings and keep track of what works and what doesn’t.

It is essential to provide variety in your activities. Don’t be afraid to go outside the box and do things differently from time to time. Yes, some undertakings won’t work quite right, but follow-up with all members about why it didn’t work and learn lessons for the future. Knowing they are part of the process will bring new members back to see what happens next.

3. Do Post-Meeting Follow Ups.

When the meeting is over, don’t forget to contact new members, without overwhelming them with multiple emails. Make this a personal connection, one-on-one from one of your volunteer team. While important to garner reaction to meetings, it is also important to get to know them by asking questions about who they are and what brought them to the local chapter. Learn what kind of skills they have, what interest they may have in volunteering, and what kind of activities they may enjoy at future meetings. Keep track of the data you collect using technical membership management capabilities.

Introduce new members to the entire chapter via the “New Members” section of your chapter newsletter, which can be easily created and sent via newsletter templates built right into your StarChapter association management software.

4. Personally Invite New Members Back.

Make a phone call and ask members back to the next meeting. This humble act will remind new members in a highly personal way that they are welcomed to the meetings and are not just another number. You can even go so far as to have chapter leadership invite newer members to participate in some specific aspect of the next meeting or join a committee based on their unique skills.

This also works for longer term members, especially those members you may not have seen in a while. Have your membership team call and check in on all members from time to time.

Keeping all members, new and current,engaged will make your membership stronger and your chapter activities more rewarding.

Start improving your chapter by signing up for our monthly newsletter today! Add your email address to the form to the right and get the latest updates and tips on how to run your chapter.

The more members you have, the stronger your organization. There is a greater opportunity for holding successful activities, more occasions for networking, and an increase in financial stability for the organization.

It Is More Than Just Numbers.

As the New Year begins, managing members becomes the key to successfully planning for the year. Knowing who has paid their dues, who has been active, and who has been in communication with your association gives you the opportunity to stay up to date with your chapter’s membership.

Now may be the perfect time to survey member and ask members what they want for the upcoming year (StarChapter customers have this tool built-in their software), as it can provide the perfect opening for reaching out via email or the chapter’s website. By providing this opportunity for current members to speak out formally, they will remain active, be more open to participate informally, and might refer potential new members. For further information on how to get to survey your members, click here.

Raising the Numbers Means New Members.

Your chapter website is a channel to communicate with both current and potential members. Build it up to attract new membership. Provide a free newsletter for both members and non-members alike that can be sent out each month. Users of StarChapter can easily set up email groups to send the newsletters to. This information is pulled out using the membership database so you know the status of your recipient lists.

Using StarChapter, you will be able to track prospective members who expressed interest by signing up for newsletter. Contact them with the New Year in an attempt to motivate them into becoming a member. Maybe create specials to entice them to try out membership for a year, with no obligation to continue after the year ends. 

If You Attract Them, Will They Stay?  

Building up your membership is difficult, as is keeping members happy. Cultivating the relationships between members raises the reputation of your association and proves that the local chapter is an effective platform in the region for like-minded people of the same industry or profession.

Board leadership should lead by example, working together in a manner that encourages members to remain active. Two intersected factors are essential to maintain membership:

1. We all know that in life and business, who you know often trumps what you know. By providing a setting for connecting with other members, your association chapter will foster good tidings between members and thus create opportunity for success through networking.
   
   
2. Providing useful educational materials. Yes, knowing the right people opens the door, but staying current with the fundamental knowledge needed to do the work is what keeps you there. Offering various methods for members to refresh or learn knowledge and other CE programs can help them reach the next level and in turn boost membership value.

Ultimately, every association seeks to grow its membership count. Remember that no one wants to feel like a number, so utilize those membership management tools to keep track and guide your decisions as chapter leaders. In this way, you can build, retain, and enhance membership value.

Start improving your chapter by signing up for our monthly newsletter today! Add your email address to the form to the right and get the latest updates and tips on how to run your chapter.