Service Clubs are communities of individuals that are united by a common purpose: to make a positive impact in their local areas and beyond. Serving as catalysts for change, Service Clubs bring together passionate individuals to create countless acts of kindness and social change.
From large organizations — Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Key Club — to small ones, members are the lifeblood that sustains Service Clubs in their mission and impact. Each member brings unique skills and experiences to round out the team and help the club meet its goals. Members infuse energy and momentum into projects and strengthen the network and reach of the club.
Yet many Service Clubs face challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining new members. People today face many time constraints, with demanding work schedules and personal commitments. So what are these organizations to do?
What is a Membership Drive
While Service Clubs are often in recruitment mode much of the time, a Membership Drive is a strategic initiative to actively increase members in a specific timeframe. The goal is to create awareness of the need for members and expand the base to ensure the greater sustainability of the Service Club. After all, more members increase the capacity for making a positive impact.
Let’s take a look at what’s involved in setting up a Service Club membership drive.
1. Identify Your Audience
To grow your membership, you first must know who would be touched enough by your mission to join. Identify the demographics and groups that align with your club’s mission and values. This could be local community members, students, professionals, or individuals with specific interests or skills.
2. Create Marketing Materials
Start with a compelling message that will help persuade your audience and highlight the benefits of joining your Service Club. Emphasize opportunities for personal growth, community impact, networking and belonging. Once you have your messaging down, develop brochures, flyers, posters or digital content to get the word out.
3. Plan Outreach Initiatives
Utilize social media, email campaigns and your club’s website to spread the word. Plan events and activities that allow potential members to learn more about your club in person. This could be a social gathering, information session, or a hands-on community service project. This is an excellent opportunity for those interested to get a feel for your group and ask questions.
4. Collaborate
Extend your reach by partnering with local organizations, businesses and community groups. Tap into the networks of your existing members by incentivizing them to get the word out. For example, you could provide local businesses or members with free merchandise, discounted membership fees, VIP access to events, etc.
5. Follow Up
Ensure that during the membership drive, you find a way to collect contact information from interested individuals. This could be an email address or a phone number. Then, ensure prompt follow-up to provide more information, answer questions and address concerns. Cultivate relationships by offering to invite them to future club activities.
Remember, people are busy and sometimes even the most well-intentioned people need more than one reminder. In addition, ensure current members are prepared to help with the onboarding process for new members, increasing their likelihood of sticking around. By creating a welcoming environment and actively engaging all members, you can effectively sustain the membership base you have worked so hard to build.
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Connect your Bank, Paypal and Square accounts to MoneyMinder PRO to directly download transactions, saving you time and effort. You just review the transactions to ensure they are properly categorized and fill out any required fields.
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