2011-2012 Workshop: Membership Goals, How to Achieve Them

Georgia District Optimist International

Q2 2011-2012 Workshop: Membership Goals; How to Achieve Them

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Facilitators:

Hal Sewell, 2011-2012 Georgia District Membership Chair

Maggie Fairchild, Optimist International Director of Social Media and Membership

William Stafford, Immediate Past President, Optimist Club of Carrollton, Georgia

Membership Considerations

Fact: Membership in our Optimist Clubs impacts our ability to serve the youth and our communities.

Fact: Each Optimist member has the potential to positively impact about 36 young people.

Fact: Membership Growth = Added Service

What if your Optimist Club had never existed (e.g. “It’s A Wonderful Life”)?

What things would the kids and the community never have experienced?

What future opportunities might never take place if your club loses members or should even cease to exist?

Membership growth is important to help ensure that the benefits that clubs provide today will continue to be a benefit tomorrow.

Without an ongoing focus on membership growth, Optimist clubs – just like other organizations – can wither to the point that they are no longer providing a service at all.

That’s when a once-active club can die!

Our growth objectives this year are:

To never let Optimist International's overall membership fall below our October 1, 2011 beginning membership for the entire 2011-2012 Optimist year.

To utilize a series of monthly challenges to bring excitement, fun and creativity to membership recruitment and retention.

Increase the use of Optimist International's Personal Growth and Involvement (PGI) program to add value to our volunteers' lives and make their volunteer experience rewarding and enjoyable.

To draw a line in the sand and declare that now is the time we turn our organization around and begin moving toward the goal of becoming the premier volunteer youth service organization in the world.

Utilize N.O.W. programs and “Friend of Optimist” events to showcase our Clubs and the community service work we do.

Utilize every form of communication from word of mouth to social media to get the news out and spread the word. The Optimists are coming, united in the spirit of Optimism and backed by a hundred years of tradition.

Optimistically,

Nick Prillaman

Chair, International Membership Committee

Georgia District Membership Plans

Achieve a MINIMUM of +15 in net membership growth for the overall Georgia District

Recognize our “90-Day Wonders”

Certificate presented to those who sponsor a new member within 90 days of their own membership

Why do people join a civic club? Some of the reasons are:

They join to serve the youth and the community

They join because they want to establish business contacts

They join because it looks good on a résumé

They join because they are asked

Suggested ways to focus on membership growth

Keep the members you have

Give members something to do

Let members who are not attending know they are missed

Be an encourager for all of your zone’s / club’s members

Focus your club members on OI’s Personal Growth and Involvement (PGI) program

Increase their awareness of our heritage and the importance of our future

Strengthen their skills and abilities as vibrant Optimists

Plan for year-round recruitment of new members

Membership Programs / Plans:

Member-a-Month Program

Maintain focus each month on sustaining / increasing the club’s membership

Use names generated from 5-5-5 program or similar programs

NOW Program (New Optimists Welcome)

5-5-5 Program

Designed to add members to the club roster on a regular basis

Ask each club member to list the five top reasons why they, personally, enjoy being an Optimist.

Ask each member to list five individuals who would be good members and who might accept an invitation to join.

Ask each member to spend five minutes a day extending an invitation to one of those five individuals. As individuals are contacted, the list should be updated.

10-Point Plan – Focus on Projects/Fund Raisers

How many new members are needed?

What kind of member does the club seek?

Who is available?

Prepare list of professional, business & other categories not already reflected on your roster

Each club member recommends no less than 3 individuals.

Establish financial package.

Prorate dues? Set financial expectations.

Monthly list of “guests” approved by Board of Directors.

Keep “guests” informed about the club; invite to activities.

Have the right people ask the “guests” to join the club.

Designated club member(s) can advise the Board of Directors of results, including turning in the proposal for membership and enrollment fee for each person who accepts.

Board of Directors assigns a member of the board to call people who have declined and thank them for their consideration.

An induction ceremony is scheduled; proper orientation scheduled for each new member who accepts the invitation to join.

“Pick Up the Pace” program from Optimist International

Objective: bring P assion, A ction, C ommitment and E nthusiasm back to membership growth. We want our Members to understand that growth is about helping our communities and the kids who are the future of our organization. It's about making our Clubs the volunteer place to go, giving value to our Members, spreading Optimism as a philosophy of life and utilizing the tenants of the Optimist Creed. Pick Up the Pace: Monthly Program Initiatives (for remainder of 2011-2012):

Friendly February </font> (http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-February.pdf__ </font> ) * March is for Smiles </font> ( http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-March.pdf__ </font> )

April - Volunteer Month </font> (http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-April.pdf__ </font> ) * May - National Hamburger Month </font> ( http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-May.pdf__ </font> )

Flying High in June </font> (http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-June.pdf__ </font> ) * July - Bring a Friend to Convention </font> ( http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-July.pdf__ </font> )

August - Kids Go Back to School </font> (http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-August.pdf__ </font> ) * September Calendar </font> ( http://www.optimist.org/Documents/PickupthePace-September.pdf__ </font> )

For more information on each initiative, please visit www.optimist.org/pickupthepace </font>

Practices to enhance membership growth:

Promote what you do (advertise your club) so other people in the community are aware of your activities and want to be a part of your organization

Consider one or more sites for New Club Building

Replace, don’t just delete members

Never delete without at least two personal efforts to save the member.

Incent yourselves to get a new member before you take the easy way out and delete an existing one

“ASK SOMEONE”

Types of Optimist Volunteers

Traditional club member

Friend of Optimist (FOO)

Both (member & FOO) count towards membership goals

Membership Awards & Special Promotions for 2011-2012

Number of members in each club to not go below the October 1, 2011 number

“Bringing Out the Best” Club: Add at least one member

Honor Club: Grow Club by NET + 1

Distinguished Club: Grow Club by net of 15 OR Charter a New Club

EVERY CLUB IN THE GEORGIA DISTRICT SHOULD BE HONOR OR DISTINGUISHED!

Georgia Optimists who bring in new members will earn a special nametag with bells:

1 new member: 1 bell in recognition of “Clarence the Angel”

2 new members: 2 bells in recognition of “Harry Bailey”

2 new members: 3 bells in recognition of “George Bailey”

It really can be a wonderful life!

Consider Optimism to be a gift that you can (and should) share with others!

Increase each club’s service to the youth and to the community

Remember: Each Optimist member has the potential to help approximately 36 young people!

Has there ever been a better time in our country for an Optimist Club to serve the youth and the community??? What a wonderful opportunity we all have!

Have fun this year by bringing in new Optimist volunteers and by “bringing out the best in kids”!

Together we will help ensure that the great Georgia District ends the year with a significant positive growth in members and an even greater outreach to our youth and to our communities!